Little People Press

Parliament Passes New CPF Life Plan

2009-07-20T22:05:00.002+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this story on 20 July 2009:

Parliament passes new CPF Life plan with aim of celebrating longevity
By S.Ramesh

SINGAPORE: Celebrating greater longevity with CPF Life is the aim of changes to the CPF Act passed by Parliament on Monday to ensure members have an income for the rest of their lives.

But several MPs expressed concern over those who have less than S$40,000 in accounts to fully benefit from the scheme.

It started with 12 different plans for CPF Life and now it's down to just four - Life Plus Plan, Life Basic Plan, Life Income Plan and Life Balanced Plan.

Members with at least S$40,000 in their Retirement Account will be automatically included, while those with lower cash balances can opt-in.

LIFE Plus Plan offers higher monthly income but leaves behind less for beneficiaries.

For the LIFE Basic Plan, members accept a lower monthly income for higher bequest amount.

The LIFE Income Plan offers the highest monthly income but members would leave nothing behind when they pass away.

The default plan is the LIFE Balanced Plan which will provide a balance between a level of retirement income and some bequest amount if they pass away early.

Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong, said: "Over the years our CPF policies have evolved to better address our changing needs and they will continue to evolve.

CPF Life is our unique response to address the challenges of our ageing population and it marks an important milestone in the evolution of the CPF."

This was a major concern for trade unionist Halimah Yacob as the number of Singaporeans working part time or on contract work has increased.

She said: "Our low-wage workers are the ones who need such a scheme the most as they are not likely to have discretionary savings or other assets. I would like to ask the Minister to study this issue carefully, so that we can have a truly inclusive CPF Life scheme."

In her maiden speech in Parliament, Nominated MP Pauline Straughan, suggested programmes for the vulnerable poor.

She said: "As we move towards a more comprehensive coverage for Singaporeans, it is even more critical for us to ensure that no group is omitted from the lifelong income fund. If we failed to do so, we may inadvertently entrench social inequality."

The CPF Board estimates that at least 70 per cent of members turning 55-years- old in 2013, will have at least S$40,000 in their retirement accounts.

Mr Gan said: "There is no minimum balance required to participate in CPF Life. All members, regardless of their CPF balances, can opt-in into the scheme.

“However, members with a very low balance may not be in a position to maximise the benefits from CPF Life."

For them, schemes like Workfare will come in handy where older, low-wage workers receive an income supplement, of which a portion is credited into the recipient's CPF to shore up his retirement savings.

Changes to the CPF Act also address the issue of members who are mentally incapacitated.

Currently, under the Mental Capacity Act, a court ruling cannot affect a CPF nomination.

So, rules dealing with nominations will also be amended to allow the courts to do this, in the best interest of the member.

Four Prosecuted in Kickback Employment Scam

2009-07-16T20:15:00.001+08:00

AsiaOne ran this story on 16 July 2009:

Four prosecuted in kickback employment scam

Three employers and one agent have been prosecuted for kickback offences.

This is the first prosecution since new regulations were introduced by the Ministry of Manpower in July 2008.

The employers - Ong Gim Chua, manager of Meeting Point Pub & Lounge, Ke Koon Seng, director of Seng System Engineering Pte Ltd, and Wong Seng Kiong of Guo Tai Mei Trading - were charged for recovering employment-related costs from their foreign workers.

Meanwhile, the agent, Sun Bao Hua of Starseas Consulting Services Pte Ltd, was charged for abetting representatives of four bus companies to receive benefits by paying them to hire foreign workers through her agency.. The for cases involved 22 workers.

Under the new regulations, Work Permit and S Pass conditions prohibit employers from receiving payment as consideration for employing foreign workers, and recovering employment-related costs from foreign workers.

Similarly, the Employment Agency Licence Condition also prohibits employment agencies from offering payment (whether monetary or in kind) to employers, in exchange for hiring foreign workers through them.

Aw Kum Cheong, Divisional Director, Foreign Manpower Management Division, MOM, said, "Kickbacks undermine the integrity of the employment agency industry, and distorts the market for foreign labour. Our foreign worker policies are intended to help companies to meet their legitimate need for foreign workers. Foreign workers should not be brought into Singapore in order to collect fees from them. Such exploitative behaviour will not be tolerated."

Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, employers who breach Work Permit conditions can be fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to six months. They will also be barred from employing foreign workers in the future. Employment agencies that breach the Employment Agency licence conditions will have their licenses revoked and security deposit of $20,000 forfeited.

Fake Degree Peddler's Second School to Close Too

2009-07-16T08:54:00.000+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 16 July 2009:

Fake degree peddler's second school to close too
By Amelia Tan & Corrie Tan

A SECOND private school run by a man who peddled fake degrees has been ordered to close.

In a statement yesterday, the Education Ministry (MOE) said it had revoked the registration of Stamford Global Learning Centre, which has about 40 students and is also operated by Mr Benny Yap Chee Mun.

The order came a day after another school owned by Mr Yap, Brookes Business School, was ordered to close.

----------------

Students lured by attractive deal

BROOKES Business School offered something which many students found too good to refuse - a degree in a year for $12,000, and from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) no less.

But the scam was exposed by The Straits Times in a report last month.

Students were lured by the fact that the school was registered with the Education Ministry and had the CaseTrust quality mark.

In addition to RMIT degrees, it offered bachelor of business qualifications from a Brookes University - which students said they were told was based in Truro city in Cornwall, Britain - the University of Wales and the University of Ballarat in Australia.

Brookes Business School Registration Cancelled

2009-07-16T08:49:00.001+08:00

AsiaOne ran this story on 15 July 2009:

Brookes Business School Registration Cancelled

Ministry of Education will cancel the registration of Brookes Business School effective today.

This follows the outcomes of investigations by the secretariat of the pro-tem Council for Private Education (CPE) on Brookes Business Schools for contraventions of the Education Act.

All affected students may approach the Association of Private Schools and Colleges (APSC) to seek assistance to be placed in another private education institution.

Students must be prepared to show proof that they are currently enrolled at the school, and must bring their student contracts, payment receipts, course schedules and assignments completed, and any past tests scripts and results.

International students holding student passes issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) should first approach the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) to get advice on fees return under the Student Protection Scheme.

Students may also contact Students may also contact pro-tem CPE via the MOE Customer Service at
(email) MOE_CPE_Contact@moe.gov.sg or (Telephone) 68722220 for clarifications.

The secretariat of the pro-tem CPE is working with various agencies and the private education industry players to put in place measures to ensure that affected students have other avenues to complete their studies.

Siew Kum Hong Not Re-Appointed as NMP

2009-07-06T22:59:00.005+08:00

From Siew Kum Hong's blog entry on 6 July 2009:

I received a notice from Parliament a couple of hours ago -- it was the Second Report of the Special Select Committee on Nominations for Appointment as Nominated Members of Parliament, which I've reproduced below. In short, I was not re-appointed, and the new NMPs (who will be sworn in on 20 July) are:

1. Mr Calvin Cheng Ern Lee
2. Mr Terry Lee Kok Hua
3. Mrs Mildred Tan-Sim Beng Mei
4. Assoc Prof Paulin Tay Straughan
5. Mr Teo Siong Seng
6. Mr Viswaroopan s/o Sadasivan
7. Mr Laurence Wee Yoke Thong
8. Ms Audrey Wong Wai Yen
9. Ms Joscelin Yeo Wei Ling

I am of course disappointed that I was not re-appointed; I felt and continue to feel that I could contribute meaningfully to Parliament for a second term, which is why I applied for it in the first place. Having said that, I am glad that I had the opportunity to serve, and I hope that I had contributed to Parliamentary debate (as the NMP scheme was intended to). Beyond that, it is really for Singaporeans to judge my time in Parliament for themselves.

Please visit Kum Hong's blog to read the full entry @ http://siewkumhong.blogspot.com/2009/07/nmp-results-are-out.html.

Video: Plight of Migrant Workers

2009-07-04T11:37:00.004+08:00

TWC2 has produced two videos on the case involving the unfavourable housing and employment conditions of migrant workers in the dormitory at Tagore Lane. This is one of them titled "Plight of Migrant Workers".

Video: Migrant Workers Left In The Lurch

2009-07-04T11:37:00.003+08:00

Another video produced by TWC2 titled "Migrant Workers Left in the Lurch".

Human trafficking: More Women, Children Being victimised

2009-06-30T21:24:00.001+08:00

AsiaOne ran this article by The Nation/Asia News Network on 30 June 2009:

Human trafficking: More women, children being victimised

THAILAND - More and more women and children are becoming part of human-trafficking scams, a report from the Foundation for Women (FFW) said yesterday.

"With countries like Laos having a very male-oriented society, male family members force women or children to shoulder bread-winning responsibilities. Since children and women are weak, they are not allowed to make decisions and instead are taken advantage of or violated by human traffickers," Panjit Kaewsawang, a social worker with the FFW, said at a seminar yesterday.

"Some female victims in Laos cannot even use the money given to them by the FFW to bring their lives back in order. Instead the money is used for other purposes such as a relative's wedding, the purchase of a tractor or a satellite dish," she added.

She studied the lives of victims in Laos, Cambodia and Burma after they were rescued from a life of drudgery.

Panjit said she found that mothers and children were often abandoned, which put them at further risk. She also found that some Burmese refugees on the Thai border kept selling their children even after they had been rescued from human traffickers.

The seminar, held at Bangkok's Asia Hotel, was organised to study the problem of human trafficking and to find a way of assisting victims after they had been rescued.

Meanwhile, Matthana Chetamee, the FFW's project coordinator in Thailand, has discovered that illegal agents held a lot of power in certain communities, which not only threatened people's safety but also made it difficult to corner them.

"The agents will have donated large amounts of money to temples, thereby gaining the respect and trust of the locals. Victims who try to take these agents to court are usually condemned by their communities," Matthana said.

Another problem that Thai human-trafficking victims face is that some relevant government officials do not take them seriously.

"Many have told me that every time they asked for financial assistance, they were made to feel like beggars," Matthana said.

FFW's president Siriporn Skrobanek recommended that both governmental and non-governmental organisations jointly approach local administrative organisations and have them take part in making locals understand what happens to human-trafficking victims and encourage them to fight against the illegal agents.

She also called on relevant officials to pay serious attention to victims. "People accused of human trafficking out on bail should not be allowed to go overseas," Siriporn added.

Regional Rights Body Dismissed as "Toothless"

2009-06-30T00:11:00.001+08:00

IPS (www.ipsnews.net) ran this article on 27 June 2009:

SOUTHEAST ASIA: Regional Rights Body Dismissed as "Toothless"
By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Jun 27 (IPS) - Southeast Asia is weeks away from getting its own regional human rights body, but not everyone is cheering the birth of this new mechanism due to be approved at a foreign ministers’ meeting here. Least of all the region’s vibrant human rights community, spread across the 10 countries that belong to the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In a final, desperate push to lobby for an ASEAN Human Rights Body (AHRB) with teeth, over 200 civil society organisations, activists and academics have dispatched a letter to the high-profile committee drafting the terms of reference (ToR) of the rights body to make it an "effective" mechanism.

Plans are afoot to meet some foreign ministers before they assemble for the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in the resort island of Phuket, from Jul. 17- 23. The ministers are due to approve the ToR for the AHRB, paving the way for it to start functioning later in the year.

The countries in the regional bloc, which was formed in 1967 as a bulwark against the spread of communism, include Brunei, Burma (or Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Most troubling for the activists is the lack of power for this regional entity to investigate rights violations among member countries and the absence of independent human rights experts to be on the body. There is also a call for the AHRB to have regular reviews of the human rights situation in the region.

"We hear that these three demands have not been met," says Yuyun Wahyuningrum, East Asia programme manager for FORUM-ASIA, a Bangkok- based regional rights lobby. "There is opposition from Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. Even Singapore and Malaysia have said our demands are difficult."

"We said this has to do with the lives of victims, in our meetings with the government officials," she added in an interview. "The ToR is very weak and may do little to improve the human rights situation in the region."

That is confirmed by the confidential draft text of the ToR seen by IPS. Although stating that the AHRB is being created to "promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of the peoples of ASEAN," the language in this nine-page document is short on specific details on precise actions of the new body to protect victims of gross abuse.

There are also provisions for principles that the 42-year-old ASEAN is known for, such as "non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN Member states" and "respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all ASEAN Members States."

But non-governmental organisations (NGOs) argue that when governments sign international treaties they give up an aspect of sovereignty and are open to some monitoring by the international community.

"To renege on the international human rights standards at this point would be really a shame," says Rafendi Djamin, coordinator of Indonesia’s NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy. "This would again affirm the widespread perception that ASEAN lacks the political will to protect human rights."

There is already a view among some activists that the AHRB is destined to fall far short of what national human rights commissions in some ASEAN countries - such as Indonesia and the Philippines - have achieved. They have strong investigation mechanisms and independent commissioners.

"The power to investigate human rights violations is the first mandate of the Philippines human rights commission," says Cres Lucero, deputy executive director of the Manila-based Task Force Detainees of the Philippines. "It helps with a witness protection programme and is committed and has a capacity building plan."

"The credibility of any human rights body will be judged on its power to investigate," she added during a telephone interview from the Philippines capital. "It is disappointing that the AHRB will be weaker than the national human rights bodies."

ASEAN’s history offers a window into understanding why the AHRB is hampered by these flaws despite the region’s charter, which came into force last December, spelling out that the need for a regional human rights mechanism was important in making the bloc a rules-based entity on the lines of the European Union.

With the exception of Indonesia and the Philippines and, to some measure Thailand, the rest of ASEAN’s members have governments that permit a limited democratic culture to ones that crush all hints of political and civil liberties. The latter are still comfortable with the concept of "Asian values" - an idea advanced by the authoritarian leaders of Malaysia and Singapore in the 1990s to justify the strong grip with which they ruled, and to deflect criticism from the West.

"The ToR for the AHRB mirrors the shortcomings of the ASEAN Charter as a whole," says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University. "It has the politically correct concepts. But in the details, it has been diluted and is not effective."

"The problem is that the ToR was a ‘Track One’ process like the ASEAN Charter. Only officials were involved in drafting it," he explained to IPS. "ASEAN is full of non-democratic countries. So a ‘Track One’ process lacks legitimacy, lacks people’s participation and also ruins the purpose."

Firm Fined $100k Over IR Worksite Death

2009-06-27T18:42:00.001+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 27 June 2009:

Firm fined $100k over IR worksite death
By Elena Chong

A CONSTRUCTION company was fined $100,000 yesterday over a fatal accident on the worksite of the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, where a brick wall collapsed on a foreign worker.

A representative of Lian Beng Construction, the occupier of the worksite, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure a safe workplace on Jan 16 last year.

In the same court, Indian national Pitchai Alagarsamy, 40, the former foreman of Soon Li Heng Civil Engineering, was fined $800 - $200 shy of the maximum fine - for failing to work with Lian Beng to stop the wall from being backfilled.

This safety breach resulted in the death of Mr Xie Xu Han, 39, who died of multiple fractures.

Lian Beng was contracted by Marina Bay Sands to build the sub-structure for the three hotel towers on the site; Lian Beng sub-contracted Soon Li Heng to carry out the earthworks on the site, Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Danny Han told the court.

The accident happened while a basement was being built. As one part was progressing ahead of the other, a gravity wall was to be erected to demarcate and separate the work areas.

Investigations showed that a brick wall was erected to act as a formwork for the gravity wall.

Not supported with any other structure, the backfilled brick wall collapsed onto the Chinese national.

The court heard that a few hours before the accident, Alagarsamy had seen the brick formwork being backfilled with earth. He did nothing to stop it although he had been told backfilling should not be done.

Lian Beng's lawyer Raymond Chan said that, following the accident, steps have been taken to improve workplace safety. Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, the company could have been fined up to $500,000.

MOM Helped Recover $800,000 in Salary Claims This Year

2009-06-08T22:15:00.001+08:00

AsiaOne ran this article on 8 June 2009:

MOM helped recover $800,000 in salary claims this year

In the first quarter of this year, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) helped 750 local workers recover about $800,000 in claims.

Since its inception in 1968, MOM's Labour Court has served an important function in enabling workers with valid claims to seek a quick resolution without incurring high costs.

The Labour Court heard around 490 cases, for which Orders were issued for payments to be made to workers. For the remaining cases, employers reached out-of-court settlements with their workers.

Salary in lieu of termination notice

One such case involved in Dec last year involved a company which terminated the services of four employees, without paying their salaries in lieu of termination notice.

The company also owed salaries to three of them, ranging from $1,700 to $6,000.

Upon inquiry by the ministry, the employees were eventually paid the full amount they were owed in May this year.

Employers are reminded that notice periods in employment contracts provide time to the affected party to prepare for the cessation of the employment relations. If employers intend to vary the terms of the employment contract, this should be communicated clearly and put in writing.

Paid sick leave and unauthorised salary deduction

Another case involved a worker in a childcare centre who took eight days of hospitalisation leave in Dec last year, and also further hospitalisation leave in Feb and Mar this year. The employer failed to pay her salaries in Feb and Mar, and also deducted the eight days of hospitalisation leave in 2008 from her salary in Jan 2009.

Under the Employment Act, an employee is entitled to pay sick leave if he has served the employer for at least 3 months.

Annual leave, sick leave and termination notice

In another case, a worker was terminated while he was on hospitalisation leave, and offered $2,800 as settlement, with no explanation given as to how sum was arrived at.

The Labour Court informed the employer that his full obligation to the worker upon terminating his services should have been around $5,300. The full termination payment was eventually paid to the employee.

MOM advisory

Workers are advised to refer to their obligations and rights in their employment contracts and the Employment Act.

If they feel that the law has not been complied with, they may approach the Ministry for advice and assistance. They can also make an e-appointment through the MOM website at www.mom.gov.sg or contact MOM at 6438 5122.

Singapore Has Most Efficient Civil Service

2009-06-03T23:58:00.000+08:00

Thomson Reuters ran this article on 3 June 2009:

Most efficient civil service

SINGAPORE'S civil servants are the most efficient among their Asian peers, a business survey on 12 economies released on Wednesday showed, but they tend to clam up unhelpfully when things go wrong.

The Republic was ranked first for a third time in a poll of 1,274 expatriates working in 12 North and South Asian nations on the efficiency of bureaucrats in those countries.

The poll was last held in 2007.

'During normal times, when the system is not stress-tested, it operates very well,' Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy said in a 12-page report of Singapore's bureaucracy.

'However, during difficult times - or when mistakes are made that reflect badly on the system - there is a tendency among bureaucrats to circle the wagons in ways that lack transparency and make accountability difficult,' the report said.

India's 'suffocating bureaucracy' was ranked the least-efficient by the survey, which said working with the country's civil servants was a 'slow and painful' process.

'They are a power centre in their own right at both the national and state levels, and are extremely resistant to reform that affects them or the way they go about their duties,' PERC said.

Thailand, despite four years of on-off street protests and a year of dysfunctional government was ranked third.

'For all the country's troubles - or perhaps because of them - respondents to our survey were impressed with the way Thai civil servants have been carrying out their duties,' PERC said, adding that state offices associated with corruption presented the most difficulties for Thai citizens and foreigners.

PERC managing director Bob Broadfoot told Reuters that the controversy around huge investment losses by Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek was a good example of how things could become less transparent in in the island-state.

The Singapore government has come under fire from lawmakers and its citizens over several investment losses, particular its exit from Bank of America which resulted in a loss of over US$3 billion (S$4.32 billion), according to Reuters calculation.

The survey ranked Hong Kong second. China, which has been campaigning to fight corruption in its bureaucracy and improve efficiency on the civil service, was ranked 9th in the 2009 poll, two places down from 2007.

Ranking by most efficient to least efficient economies: Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, China, Philippines, Indonesia and India.

Video: In Unity for Her Liberty

2009-06-02T23:47:00.001+08:00

Thanks to Patrick Chng for giving us this video of the In Unity for Her Liberty: a Peace Vigil for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Freedom event at Speakers' Corner on 31 May 2009.

'Hybrid system' for Parliament?

2009-05-27T00:52:00.001+08:00

The Strait Times website ran this article on 26 May 2009 (Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times):

'Hybrid system' for Parliament?
By Zakir Hussain

NOMINATED MP Siew Kum Hong on Monday called for a hybrid Parliament in which 'a limited number of seats' could be 'allocated by way of proportional representation', while the majority would still be filled the way they are now.

This would allow for more diverse views in Parliament, he said, adding that it would also be 'more consistent with democratic principles than a scheme like the Nominated MP scheme'.

Under proportional representation, parties are allocated seats based on their share of the popular vote.

Mr Siew also welcomed the three principles outlined by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong over the weekend to guide political changes that President SR Nathan had hinted at in his address to Parliament last Monday.

Mr Goh said the changes must be fair to all political parties; should result in a strong, effective Government; and must ensure diverse and opposition views are represented in Parliament.

Mr Siew said that these objectives accept that a fair electoral system is critical for its legitimacy, and that it is in Singapore's interest to have diverse views in the House.

'I applaud the SM, and the Government, for taking this stance,' he said.

Mr Siew also called for a reduction in the size of group representation constituencies (GRCs) and an increase in the number of single member constituencies.

'These moves, together with clear commitments to refrain from the constant redrawing of electoral boundaries and to openly publish the reasons and justifications for any such redrawing, will go a long way towards restoring Singaporeans' respect for the political process in Singapore,' he said.

He felt the moves would also make citizens more willing to take part in the political process, and convince them that the PAP is serious about political change, even if this meant its absolute dominance of the House could be at risk.

Teach Character Values

2009-05-27T00:49:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times ran this article on 26 May 2009:

Teach character values
By Derrick Ho

THE apparent lack of civility and gracious behaviour during the recent Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) saga is a clear indication that Singapore is still lagging behind in graciousness, said MP Lim Biow Chuan (Maine Parade GRC) on Tuesday.

He urged schools to teach basic character values to students all the way till university level.

'The only point which I wish to make is that if the reports are accurate, then civility and gracious behaviour during the Aware extraordinary general meeting was clearly missing. While I accept that emotions were highly charged.... I would submit that this cannot be the level of behaviour which we should promote as acceptable,' he said of the 'raucous behaviour' during the EGM.

Citing other examples, Mr Lim said graciousness among Singaporeans seems to 'be an elusive target which is moving further and further away'.

Unruly road behaviour and the need to still rely on campaigns to encourage commuters to give up seats to the elderly, and shoppers to return their trolleys, were some instances Mr Lim raised in his speech during the debate on the President's address.

He said regardless of Singapore's economic situation, 'well-mannered, courteous and considerate' fellow citizens will make life more pleasant'.

Mr Lim said if Singapore is serious about wanting to promote a more civil society, parents must play a part in inculcating values themselves and not 'sub-contract' it to their domestic helper or rely solely on teachers.

Raising a similar point, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parilamentary Secretatary for Education and Home Affairs, urged the government and society not to lose sight of its principles and 'fundamentals' during tough times and ensure that children continue to attend school and focus on their studies.'

He noted that a good number of youths drop out of school because they can get by, working at McDonald's for $4 per hour by leaving school immediately rather than wait 12 long years of education to earn a trade certificate.

Acknowledging that dual income families may not be able to spend more time with their children, Mr Lim urged the Ministry of Education to consider teaching basic character values through the entire school curriculum from primary school level all the way to university.

'We should make character education an integral part of the education system and not just another non-examinable subject. We must evaluate out school principals and administrators not on how many students that they can produce with outstanding academic results but how well they mould their students.'

Mr Lim also asked the government to take the lead in nurturing graciousness by showing more compassion to the poor. Citing an example, he said many HDB tenants were asked to pay a higher rental when their family income goes up, regardless of the number of family members the tenant has to support.

'When it comes to dealing with the poorer segment of our society, we take quite a tough approach with these tenants,' Mr Lim said. 'We have failed to come across as being compassionate and mindful of their difficulties... Can we not afford these people a greater sense of compassion by the government? Can we not give our residents more encouragement when they try to better their lives to earn a higher income?'

Lorry Load of Trouble

2009-05-26T18:12:00.000+08:00

The New Paper ran this article on 26 May 2009:

Lorry load of trouble
By Ho Lian-Yi

It's common to hear Singaporeans gripe about having to be packed like sardines on trains and buses during peak hours.

But take a look at these pictures - and see how foreign workers are being transported daily.

They put up with bumpy rides and battle the elements. Worse, it is dangerous.

Four workers were killed last Monday after the lorry that was carrying them crashed into a trailer at Tuas.

We spoke to a few foreign workers to find out what it's like to travel on the back of a lorry.

Mr Arman, 29, a Bangladeshi, told The New Paper that he gets to sit in the front of the lorry these days - one of the perks of being a supervisor.

But he still remembers vividly the "scary" rides at the back.

The ride from his workers' quarters in Yishun to his worksite in Haig Road takes 25 minutes.

When the drive brakes suddenly, "those behind also come to the front", he said.

He has also seen workers getting hit by low-lying branches - causing injury in some cases.

What is really dangerous, Mr Arman said, is when companies carry equipment and men on the same lorry. When it's overloaded, workers have to sit on the machinery.

He said his workers bought a 5m-long canvas sheet to protect themselves from the rain. When it pours, they huddle under the sheet, holding hands.

Despite the recent accident, nothing has changed, Mr Arman said.

Another Bangladeshi workers, 38, who declined to be named, said that recently, one of his colleagues injured his leg falling off a lorry when it surged forward before he had properly climbed onboard.

Although he has worked in Singapore for 19 years, he said he had to take lorries only in the last two years. Previously, he lived onsite.

The lorry rides are very bumpy, he said. And that hurts his spine.

"One year, two years, so much damage to my back," he said.

Sometimes, when the lorry ends up behind a rubbish truck, the stench is unbearable, he said.

He added that when the workers get caught in the rain and fall sick, some foremen are unsympathetic.

Other workers though, had better experiences.

Indian national Muthu Senthil, 28, who has worked in Singapore for five years, takes the lorry from Tuas to Marina Bay at 7am every day. It's a 45-minute ride.

While there are no seat belts, he said everyone holds on to the handlebars at the side tightly. And people do not fall off as the driver moves off only after the workers have told him that everyone is secure.

No mixing

They also do not mix equipment with workers.

"If they need to get equipment, they'll make a second trip," Mr Senthil said.

Singapore roads are straight, he added, and not dangerous.

Mr Bala Supramaniam, 27, said his driver, a Singaporean, was "very good" and cleans his lorry every day.

"He follows the speed limit, even on the highway," he said.

His lorry has plywood planks securely bolted to the sides for the workers to sit, and handles to grasp.

Mr Bala deals with the dust and smoke of the roads with a handkerchief over his mouth.

What he is unhappy about is the way many workers get on or off a lorry while it's still moving.

All the foreign workers we spoke to said they preferred to be transported by bus. But most were not optimistic that there will be changes any time soon.

Said Mr Arman, "If I tell my boss, buy a bus for us, he'll say, 'waste money for what?'"

Only Elected Opposition Offers 'Effective Checks'

2009-05-26T15:47:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times ran this article on 26 May 2009:

Only elected opposition offers 'effective checks'
By Zakir Hussain, Political Correspondent

THE ruling party says the effectiveness of Singapore's political system lies in its internal checks and its ability to serve the people, but only an elected opposition can provide effective checks and balances, Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) declared yesterday.

The leader of the Workers' Party said this is because the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) currently dominates the House, can amend the Constitution freely, and controls key levers of power in the country.

What if one day it were to abuse its powers, trample on people's rights or become corrupt? 'What can the people do then?' asked Mr Low.

NMP Siew Kum Hong calls for a 'hybrid system' for Parliament

NOMINATED MP Siew Kum Hong yesterday called for a hybrid Parliament in which 'a limited number of seats' could be 'allocated by way of proportional representation', while the majority would still be filled the way they are now.

This would allow for more diverse views in Parliament, he said, adding that it would also be 'more consistent with democratic principles than a scheme like the Nominated MP scheme'.

Under proportional representation, parties are allocated seats based on their share of the popular vote.

We Are Not Funding NMP

2009-05-26T15:27:00.002+08:00

The Electric New Paper ran this article on 26 May 2009:

We are not funding NMP
By Liew Hanqing

NETIZENS were abuzz over a meeting between him and Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Siew Kum Hong last month.

But Mr Johan Skarendal, 29, a member of the Swedish International Liberal Centre (SILC), has rubbished online allegations that Mr Siew had asked for and is receiving foreign funding from his organisation.

Mr Skarendal said SILC is a foundation which assists democracy development, by supporting organisations and individuals who promote democracy and human rights.

It is affiliated to the Liberal Party, one of the four political parties in the Swedish government since 2006.

In recent weeks, Mr Siew has been the target of what seems like an organised online campaign to oppose his re-nomination as a NMP.

Flamed online

He has been flamed extensively on several forums and blogs, and has even received nasty e-mails from his detractors.

Mr Skarendal told The New Paper that though he met Mr Siew during his visit to Singapore last month, the issue of funding was never broached.

He said: 'I met him (Mr Siew) for one hour to discuss his work in parliament, and his views on current affairs and the civil society in Singapore.'

He added that SILC is one of several Swedish organisations carrying out government policy in the democracy assistance field.

'All of our project proposals must pass through rigorous screening and evaluation before decisions are made to fund a project,' he said.

He stressed that Mr Siew did not ask about the possibility of funding, and neither did he mention the possibility to Mr Siew.

'The current allegations against him are clearly nothing but hot air with the intent to defame him, and as such are criminal in nature,' Mr Skarendal said.

When contacted, Mr Siew declined comment as he has already made a police report.

In an 18 May entry on his blog (siewkumhong.blogspot.com), Mr Siew wrote: 'I did not at any time ask for, and have not at any time been offered or accepted, any sort of funding from any local or foreign entity, including the Swedish politician named in the latest attack.

'The only sources of income (or funding) that I have, are my employer and the Government of Singapore (in the form of my monthly NMP allowance).'

He quashed online allegations of links with the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).

Mr Siew described the latest attacks as going 'beyond anything that a reasonable person could possibly perceive as being a valid or legitimate exercise of the right to free speech.'

He added that he would not tolerate the latest wave of 'character assassination' from 'cowards hiding behind the perceived anonymity of the Internet'.

Mr Skarendal said his latest visit to Singapore was with Mr Henrik Ehrenberg, head of the allied Christian Democratic International Center.

They met with several 'human rights defenders and civil society members', but Mr Skarendal declined to say who, because it would be 'impolite' to do so.

He confirmed that he had met with SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan during the recent visit. They first met in February 2003 when Dr Chee visited Sweden.

Call for Political Change

2009-05-26T15:10:00.003+08:00

Today ran this article on 26 May 2009:

'Start with electoral boundaries’
By Alicia Wong

THOUGH it may put the People’s Action Party’s dominance at risk, the “sheer symbolism” of having smaller Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) and more Single Member Constituencies (SMC) willl “go a long way towards convincing Singaporeans that the PAP is serious about political change,” said Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong.

President S R Nathan had last week signalled that Singapore’s political system must evolve as society changes.

In Mr Siew’s view, clear commitments to not constantly re-draw the electoral boundaries, and publishing the reasons should the Government do so, will help restore Singaporean’s respect for the process and increase their desire to vote.

“That has to be the starting place if we truly want Singapore politics to evolve and Singaporeans to participate,” argued Mr Siew, who saw a “longstanding problem of political apathy and disengagement”.

MP Low Thia Kiang (Hougang) called for the strengthening of external checks and balances in the political system, in the form of the Opposition.

It is not enough that the losing candidate is appointed as a Non-Constituency MP, he argued; elected MPs have the benefit of Meet the People sessions which help them grasp issues on the ground. Also, given the chance to represent a constituency gives the Opposition party space for events to widen its networks.

In contrast to Mr Siew’s view, Reach chairman Amy Khor believes there is “a growing political maturity and vigorous, no holds barred debate on issues of the day”. She cited discussions on the Reach portal on electricity prices and the NMP nominations.

MP Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Ponggol) agreed society is becoming more “outspoken” as channels of communication between the Government and people grow. Recent episodes in civil society and sports associations also show “a cry for openness and transparency”, he noted.

Dr Khor said “cautious” experimentation is the way forward. With Singapore’s small size, there is no “manoeuvre room to embark on bold political experimentation without risking everything that has been painstakingly built up over the past few decades”, she warned.

MPs Call for Greater Openness

2009-05-26T15:02:00.001+08:00

Today ran this article on 26 May 2009:

MPs call for greater openness from Temasek and GIC
By Alicia Wong

AS THE world economy took one knock after another in the past year, Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corp’s (GIC’s) investment decisions have also come in for some hard questions inside and outside of Parliament.

Yesterday, in their debate on the President’s May 18 address, Members of Parliament (MPs) added their voices to the call for more openness from the two investment companies in matters of public interest, as they homed in on Temasek’s recent divestment of its stake in Bank of America (BofA).

MP Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio) called for a complete review on the management and investment of Singapore’s reserves, given how Temasek and GIC had deviated from what they were chartered to do. While GIC once followed conservative principles in long-term investments that delivered good returns, it has recently been investing in “more risky investments,” said Mr Singh.

Meanwhile, Temasek, which used to invest in Singapore or Government-linked companies in their early stages of development, “in fact moved more into what GIC used to do”, so that the two are “starting to look almost similar”.

A complete review of how Singapore’s reserves are managed from now on, would “require top-levelpolicy thinking on what the core objectives are, that these two funds should serve and how they should be managed,” said Mr Singh.

With Singapore’s reserves meant as “long-term shelter” for its citizens, “is it appropriate to allow GIC and Temasek to continue investing the way they have done in recent years, make somewhat speculative investments, like the way private wealth is shown to have been managed?” he questioned.

If Temasek does not return to its original investment roots, should there be another entity to invest and bring up Singapore-based companies, asked Mr Singh, “and most importantly, should we allow so much of our reserves to be placed with GIC and Temasek, or ... managed by people who understand these are meant to be long-term investments”?

On the BofA stake sale, Temasek had on May 15confirmed it sold its 3-per-cent shareholding through a series of sales in the first quarter — but kept mum on its reasons up till a week later, when it said that its “investment thesis” as well as the “risk-return environment” had changed. Still, it did not disclose the loss incurred on the deal, which stemmed from its 2007 US$5.9-billion investment in Merrill Lynch ($8.5 billion) that was later taken over by BofA.

Temasek’s reticence on the matter spawned even more speculation over the size of the loss, with some estimates hitting as high as US$4.6 billion.

MP Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Ponggol) highlighted how citizens speculated — online and offline — on Temasek’s reasons for divesting the BofA stake and the loss incurred. “Clearly, the public wanted to know the rationale and reasons behind the decision to sell what was originally meant to be a long term investment made with public funds,” he said.

“Unfortunately, due to the lack of information, speculation and discontent were rife,” he added.

While Temasek’s statement last Thursday was a “step in the right direction”, said Mr Palmer, “questions still remain”. While it is not expected to give detailed investment strategies, “answers to pertinent questions given after the fact, which will not impact investment outcome, would appear to be another matter”.

MP Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah) said: “We lost money that took generations and many good years to create. They are investing Singaporeans’ money and Singaporeans deserve greater accountability in how our money is being spent.”

Mr Zaqy highlighted the need to address issues such as matching the commercial objectives of the investment funds to the social objectives of the reserves. He also asked if there should be greater transparency “given to the public of the bonuses and performance of its staff”?

Call for a Review of Foreign Worker Policy

2009-05-26T14:51:00.004+08:00

Today ran this article on 26 May 2009:

Call for a review of foreign worker policy
By Neo Chai Chin

Should Singapore tighten its “liberal” foreign worker policies? Some Members of Parliament think so and have called for a Government review.

Jurong MP Halimah Yacob urged for a review of foreign worker quotas to reflect today’s situation of higher unemployment and weaker job creation. She warned of a “hollowing out of skills” among locals, should large numbers of foreigners occupy jobs in a particular sector.

“There are now so many foreign workers even in the services sector that Singaporeans are beginning to feel squeezed out,” she said. For their part, Singaporeans must be prepared to work in new sectors or work further away from home.

Ang Mo Kio MP Inderjit Singh believes Singapore needs more pro-active measures such as a minimum-wage system to make some jobs more attractive to locals — a call the Opposition has made in the past — as well as reserving certain jobs for Singaporeans.

Middle- and lower-income groups here will be worse off over time with the current liberal policies due to “artificially depressed” wages — a result of “competition for low value-added jobs from foreigners”, he said.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi Set to Testify as Outcry Grows

2009-05-26T13:07:00.001+08:00

AFP ran this article on 26 May 2009:

Myanmar's Suu Kyi set to testify as outcry grows

Myanmar pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was set to testify at her trial, as European and Asian foreign ministers stepped up international pressure on the ruling junta to free her.

The military regime said it would reopen the court to diplomats and journalists for part of the day in a small concession to global criticism of its treatment of the 63-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Critics say Aung San Suu Kyi's trial, on charges of breaching her house arrest over an incident in which a US man swam to her house, is an excuse for Myanmar's ruling generals to lock her up for elections due next year.

The spokesman for her opposition party, Nyan Win, said the defence felt that the mostly closed proceedings at the notorious Insein Prison near the main city of Yangon were being rushed through.

"She will be questioned by the judge (on Tuesday)... This was a surprise to us because we need more time to discuss the case with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," Nyan Win said on Monday night.

Aung San Suu Kyi pleaded innocent last week to the charges, under which she faces between three and five years in jail. She has been detained for 13 of the last 19 years, mostly under house arrest.

The defence is also planning to call Tin Oo , the detained deputy leader of her opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, as one of its witnesses.

Asked whether he thought the ruling junta would allow testimony by Tin Oo, who has been in jail or under house arrest since 2003, Nyan Win told AFP: "They have to, otherwise it will be one-sided."

Diplomats from all foreign embassies in Yangon had been told to report to the court early on Tuesday for a briefing by a magistrate, and they would be allowed to attend the trial later in the day, a western diplomat said.

Authorities will also allow 10 journalists from local media and 11 from international organisations to report on part of the proceedings.

The trial has provoked a storm of international outrage.

More than 40 foreign ministers from Asia and Europe meeting in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi this week are to jointly call for the release Aung San Suu Kyi, according to a draft statement.

"In light of the concern about the recent development to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, ministers... called for the early release of those under detention and the lifting of restriction placed on political parties," said the draft statement.

During a meeting Monday with Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win on the sidelines of the talks, the EU called for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release.

In a rare move, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) last week expressed "grave concern" over her treatment. Myanmar's neighbours normally prefer not to be seen as intervening in the affairs of their members.

Myanmar issued an angry rebuttal to the statement on Monday.

The junta is also trying the American intruder, John Yettaw, and two female aides who live with Aung San Suu Kyi in the house.

Yettaw has said that he swam across a lake to the house to warn her of his belief that she would be assassinated, but the junta accuses Aung San Suu Kyi of illegally communicating with and sheltering him.

The latest, six-year period of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest is due to expire on Wednesday but Myanmar authorities have not said whether they will extend the term.

Aung San Suu Kyi and her deputy Tin Oo have both been detained since an incident in 2003 in which their motorcade came under attack during a political tour.

Wednesday is also the 19th anniversary of Myanmar's last democratic elections. The NLD won a landslide victory in the polls, but the military never allowed it to take office.

Chinese Worker Jailed for 10 Weeks

2009-05-26T09:21:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 25 May 2009:

Jailed for 10 weeks

A CHINESE national who threatened to jump from the top of the Ministry of Manpower building last month had no intention of doing so, a district court heard on Monday.

Zhao Er Hui's purpose of calling the police on April 1 was to intimidate MOM officers to intervene into his work-related issues with his employer.

The 32-year-old was jailed for 10 weeks after he admitted to criminal trespass at the seven-storey MOM building at Havelock Road that day.

Profitable, So Deducted Staff Pay Given Back

2009-05-26T09:19:00.001+08:00

This article was published in The Business Times on 25 May 2009:

Profitable, so deducted staff pay given back

LIKE many other companies, Knight Frank has cut staff pay as one way of riding out the downturn. But unlike most, it's ready to pay back the amount taken away - when it does well.

Staff whose pay was cut by 10-20 per cent for the months of February to April have been paid back the deducted amount.

Knight Frank chairman Tan Tiong Cheng told BT that this was done after the company managed to 'scrape through' and make a profit for the year ended April 30, 2009.

And while the pay cut remains for the current financial year, Knight Frank will return the deducted amount again should it do well.

The group has a total headcount of about 560 people in Singapore. That's excluding its network of about 700 associates or agents who don't earn a salary but are paid commissions on sales instead.

Executive directors and directors took the biggest pay cut of 20 per cent from Feb 1, with other staff seeing their salaries trimmed between 10 and 15 per cent, again with more senior staff members taking the bigger hit. Those earning less than $2,000 a month were spared.

Mr Tan declined to say just how much profit the company made for the financial year just ended. However, he disclosed that turnover fell 25-30 per cent - investment sales and residential agency businesses were hit by the property slump, but valuation did 'extremely well' and retail agency also chalked up good numbers.

On a group basis, including the results of subsidiaries such as Knight Frank Shopping Centre Management, Knight Frank Estate Management (which does property and facilities management) and Knight Frank Property Network (the associates arm), revenue took a small dent.

Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority records show that the company made an after-tax profit of $5.4 million and had revenue of $37.2 million for the year ended April 30, 2007. Figures for the year ended April 30, 2008 were not listed.

Three NGOs Form Coalition Called Solidarity for Migrant Workers

2009-05-25T11:47:00.001+08:00

Channel NewsAsia ran this article on 24 May 2009:

Three NGOs form coalition called Solidarity for Migrant Workers
By Lynda Hong

SINGAPORE : Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have said they are seeing a huge impact on foreign workers due to the economic recession.

Thus, despite more steps being taken to improve the working conditions of foreign workers, NGOs want to further strengthen activism for them.

Three NGOs - Migrant Voices, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) - have come together to form a coalition called the Solidarity for Migrant Workers, which taps on the expertise of the three foreign worker NGOs.

Up to 160 foreign workers attended the launch of the new coalition on Sunday afternoon.

Talking Point: Role of bloggers in Online Citizenry

2009-05-25T11:28:00.003+08:00

Alex Au of Yawning Bread is one of three guests in this episode of Talking Point about the role of blggers in online citizenry. Thanks to Singapore Enquirer for posting this up.

Part 1

Part 2

Dark Documentary on China Underbelly Chills Cannes

2009-05-25T00:12:00.001+08:00

AFP ran this article on 24 May 2009:

Dark documentary on China underbelly chills Cannes
By Claire Rosemberg

CANNES, France (AFP) - At a festival chock-full of cinematic violence, a documentary by a young Chinese film-maker brought more darkness to Cannes with a harrowing portrayal of life in Beijing's underbelly.

"I'm relating reality as it is in China today," director Zhao Liang told AFP in an interview.

His "Petition" documents the plight of China's judicial "petitioners" -- people from across the land who gather in Beijing in the hope of righting legal wrongs suffered back home.

"These people are sacrificing themselves for China," said Zhao, whose work is one of 15 feature-length films selected for screening by the festival but showing out-of-competition for the Palme d'Or award.

"There is a lot of corruption. China's problem today is that justice is not independent," he said.

Often from the most disadvantaged social classes, the petitioners come to Beijing's Complaints Office of the Supreme People's Court after failing to win cases lodged at local or regional level.

Filmed over a decade in alleyways and makeshift huts near the city's South railway station -- a teeming area once known as "Petitioners' City" -- the two-hour documentary focuses on the dire living conditions of the petitioners and their often hopeless quests for judicial redress.

Living off waste, sleeping rough, and locked in relentless red tape, they also face bands of thug "retrievers" sent by local authorities to shoo them home -- which often means jail or a mental hospital.

A 2006 scene shows a group recovering a jaw, a severed hand and other body parts left on a railway track where an old woman was cut down by a passing train while trying to escape retrievers.

The tale of a mother and daughter is told over a decade, from when the girl is 12 to her decision at adulthood to leave a life on the streets and marry. During her fight for justice, the mother spent five years locked up, including months drugged in psychiatric wards.

"Although we are on the road to openness, there is a still a lot to do in China," Zhao said. "This film aims to inform people about the petitioners."

"I see myself as a doctor looking at an ill person," Zhao said. "It is urgent to cure this sickness and look after the ill."

The 38-year-old film-maker said that because "Petition" was a documentary, he did not need to request an official permit in order to film nor did he require official authorisation to show the work at Cannes.

The film is scheduled to screen at a Chinese independent film festival this month. "There is space in China nowadays for this sort of film to be shown," he said.

The "Petitioners" area was razed ahead of the 2008 Olympics, when Zhao's film stops, to make way for the new South Station, Asia's largest rail terminal. But the petitioners are still in Beijing, pushed further away deep into the suburbs.

Peppered with their criticism of party officials and calls for pro-democratic revolt, Zhao said: "I can't say I agree with the petitioners in the film. I have merely related reality."

"I'm interested in the humanity of these people," he added. "In China networks are essential and these people can't pull strings."

"These people are sacrificing themselves for the good of China. I would never become a petitioner myself. I don't have sympathy for them but I do have respect."

Arrests in Chinese Slavery Case

2009-05-22T21:19:00.001+08:00

BBC ran this article on 22 May 2009:

Arrests in Chinese slavery case

Police in eastern China have arrested 10 people suspected of beating mentally disabled people forced to work as slaves in brick factories.

State media said the brick kiln owner had bought 32 such people and forced them to work without pay.

The victims, aged between 25 and 45, were freed in a police raid in April.

The case echoes a scandal in 2007, when more than 1,000 labourers - including children were found working in brutal conditions in central Shanxi province.

Following that scandal, China announced a nationwide crackdown on enslavement and child labour.

Terrible conditions

Under terrible conditions, 32 mentally disabled people were forced to work in brick kilns in Jieshou city, in Anhui province, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The 10 are "suspected of beating and treating the mentally handicapped people like slaves," a local police official was quoted as saying.

The victims had been sold to a factory owner for less than $50 (£30) each, after being recruited off the street by a taxi driver promising work food and lodging, the report said.

Unpaid, and working more than 10 hours a day, they were fed little more than steamed dough.

Twelve of those freed have now returned home, while the remainder, many of whom are unable to say where they live, are being kept in local shelters.

In Unity for Her Liberty: a Peace Vigil for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Freedom

2009-05-22T20:52:00.004+08:00

MARUAH is organising a peace vigil for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at Speakers' Corner on Sunday, 31 May 2009 at 5pm. Message from MARUAH:

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the democratically-held elections in 1990, has been under house arrest for almost two decades. On 18th May 2009, she was charged with breaching the terms of her house arrest and stood trial. She has borne her trials with dignity. Yet they continue unabated. The world has honoured her with a Nobel Peace Prize and lobbied tirelessly for her freedom but there is a growing helplessness towards the situation as the Myanmar junta continues to keep her in detention without trial.

We find the situation untenable. It will be a grave injustice if we all were to stand by and let this courageous citizen spend all her days as a prisoner. She is due for release at the end of May.

Many among us know that it will not happen. We need to show ASEAN solidarity at the civil society level and act together to ask for her freedom.

Let us then come together throughout ASEAN on the same day at the same time to demand for her freedom. Can we show solidarity by wearing some yellow in our clothing, hold a candlelight vigil and let off 19 yellow-coloured balloons (one for each year she has been under arrest) with her portrait, into the skies?

Come.
Have your silence heard.

This event is jointly organised by MARUAH (SWGAHRM) with other regional NGOs.

Remembering 22 Singapore Victims of ISA

2009-05-22T17:52:00.001+08:00

SGPolitics.net ran this article on 21 May 2009:

Today at 6.30pm, a group of activists held a rally at Hong Lim Park to call for a commission to be set up to investigate and reveal any wrongdoings by state officials in the arrest of 22 Singaporeans under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1987.

In a statement released by the activists, they expressed outrage over the Government’s use of the ISA to violate the fundamental human rights of a group of young social workers, lawyers, businessmen and theatre practitioners during Operation Spectrum on 21 May 1987.

They said that the ISA, which provides for indefinite detention without trial, is a draconian law that should be abolished.

They also said that if any of those who were detained had committed wrongdoing, they should have been charged in a court of law, and that everyone so charged has the basic right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. In no uncertain terms, they said the ISA is an outright violation of these rights.

After the statement had been read out, Ms Noora Zul recited a poem written by one of the ex-detainees, and Mr Seelan Palay read out a statement written by Mr Francis Seow in commemoration of the 22nd Anniversary of Operation Spectrum.

Finally, the group sang the song Blowing In The Wind by Bob Dylan, which is a song frequently sung at human rights events.

Watch the video of the event

Ex-ISA Detainees Remember 1987 Arrests

2009-05-22T17:49:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times published this article on 22 May 2009:

Ex-ISA detainees remember 1987 arrests
By Sue-Ann Chia from The Straits Times

TWENTY-TWO years after their arrest under the Internal Security Act (ISA), at least four of the former detainees attended an event yesterday to commemorate the incident.

They were at the Speakers’ Corner to remember May 21, 1987 - the day 16 Singaporeans were held under the ISA, which provides for detention without trial.

They were accused of being members of a Marxist conspiracy to topple the Government through illegal means. Another six were arrested on June 20 that same year.

Yesterday, a crowd of about 50 people heard the organisers - a group of activists led by artist-cum-film-maker Seelan Palay - criticise the internal security law.

Wearing T-shirts proclaiming their opposition to the ISA, they called for the law to be abolished.

They also suggested setting up a ‘truth and reconciliation committee’ to examine if the arrests were justified and to look into human rights abuses suffered by the detainees 22 years ago.

A poem titled That We May Dream Again, from a new book of the same title by former ISA detainees, was read.

The activists wrapped up the 30- minute event by singing the Bob Dylan song Blowing In The Wind.

Those present at the event included opposition Reform Party secretary- general Kenneth Jeyaretnam, film- makers Tan Pin Pin and Martyn See as well as Singapore Democratic Party’s Gandhi Ambalam and Chee Siok Chin.

Ex-detainee Vincent Cheng, 62, declined to comment.

But another, Ms Teo Soh Lung, 60, said: ‘I’m touched that they remember things from so long ago.’

She noted the event was organised by young people whom she described as very courageous. ‘I hope there can be more openness. I hope the ISA will be abolished.’

MOM Focuses Attention On Developing Globally Competitive Workforce

2009-05-19T23:18:00.000+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this article on 19 May 2009:

MOM focuses attention on developing globally competitive workforce
By S.Ramesh

SINGAPORE: Singapore said measures like the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) are efforts not just for the downturn but to also ensure the Republic remains competitive in the long-run.

The Manpower Ministry highlighted its plans in conjunction with the President's address to Parliament.

Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said a key priority in the next two years is addressing the downturn.

Up to April this year, 94,000 workers and 1,400 companies have committed to training programmes under SPUR.

Me Gan said: "SPUR will encourage companies to save jobs but it is not intended to stop companies totally from retrenchment. Some restructuring is necessary for companies to better position themselves so that they are able to cope with the downturn and emerge from the recession stronger and more competitive."

While SPUR is for a two year period, the Manpower Ministry hopes that Singaporeans will continue to cultivate the attitude of lifelong learning and develop a learning culture even after the economy recovers and the recession is over.

To achieve this, the ministry said it will continue to strengthen the system of Continuing Education and Training (CET). This will be done by expanding the CET infrastructure and recognising the qualifications by employers and workers.

There are now more than 40 CET centres in Singapore. Mr Gan also urged all to be prepared for a second wave of retrenchments, one reason for the release of new tripartite guidelines to manage excess manpower in companies.

He said: "Once we are prepared, whether it comes in the second, third or fourth quarter, it doesn't really matter because we are already prepared. The companies are ready, tighten, strengthen, our workers are already ready. That is the most important task ahead of us."

Moving ahead, the ministry said low wage workers will continue to be helped through Workfare, to ensure they too benefit from the country's progress.

Gay Agenda ‘Unfounded’, Says AWARE

2009-05-16T13:34:00.004+08:00

Today ran this article on 16 May 2009:

Gay agenda ‘unfounded’

Their stand is clear: “Aware has never promoted homosexuality”.

In a statement yesterday evening, the 24-year-old Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) stressed that its stand has always “been identical to that of the Government”.

“We agree that the heterosexual family is the norm for our society,” the women’s advocacy group stated. “But homosexuals are also part of our society and they should be able to live freely and happily, free of any discrimination.”

Their comments come in response to Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng’s comment that homosexuality was “clearly a major issue to both sides” in the Aware saga.

While welcoming Mr Wong’s reminder of the need for restraint, respect and tolerance, Aware said it was “most regrettable” that some people now think it has a “gay agenda”, and that “wrongful allegations” continue to be perpetuated online and through other channels.

“This is totally unfounded,” it stressed. The allegations by Dr Thio Su Mien and those she “handpicked” to take over Aware’s leadership were based “on the strength of bits of information taken out of context and strung together to create an imaginary and inaccurate picture of Aware’s activities”, said Aware.

But, the current executive committee is moving on, they said. With an expanded membership, they are now putting together programmes for the year. ALICIA WONG
Their stand is clear: “Aware has never promoted homosexuality”.

In a statement yesterday evening, the 24-year-old Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) stressed that its stand has always “been identical to that of the Government”.

“We agree that the heterosexual family is the norm for our society,” the women’s advocacy group stated. “But homosexuals are also part of our society and they should be able to live freely and happily, free of any discrimination.”

Their comments come in response to Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng’s comment that homosexuality was “clearly a major issue to both sides” in the Aware saga.

While welcoming Mr Wong’s reminder of the need for restraint, respect and tolerance, Aware said it was “most regrettable” that some people now think it has a “gay agenda”, and that “wrongful allegations” continue to be perpetuated online and through other channels.

“This is totally unfounded,” it stressed. The allegations by Dr Thio Su Mien and those she “handpicked” to take over Aware’s leadership were based “on the strength of bits of information taken out of context and strung together to create an imaginary and inaccurate picture of Aware’s activities”, said Aware.

But, the current executive committee is moving on, they said. With an expanded membership, they are now putting together programmes for the year.

Singapore 'Dismayed' Over Suu Kyi Charges

2009-05-15T17:48:00.002+08:00

AsiaOne ran this AFP article on 15 May 2009:

Singapore 'dismayed' over Suu Kyi charges

SINGAPORE, May 15, 2009 (AFP) - Singapore said Friday it was "dismayed" after Myanmar's ruling military lodged new charges against detained Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and called for her release.

The city-state said this could set back fellow ASEAN member Myanmar's national reconciliation process.

"We reiterate the call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from detention. We are also concerned about recent reports on her poor health, and that the arrest may exacerbate her condition," the foreign ministry said.

"Singapore is dismayed by this latest development. This is a setback for the national reconciliation process."

The 63-year-old Nobel Peace prize winner and democracy leader is facing five years in jail for allegedly breaching the terms of her house arrest after a US man swam to her lakeside house.

She has already spent most of the past two decades confined to her home after winning 1990 elections which were never recognised by the ruling military authorities.

Singapore and Myanmar belong to the 10-state Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.

The Jakarta-based ASEAN secretariat has made no comment about Aung San Suu Kyi's impending trial, which has drawn strong international condemnation.

Myanmar last year ratified ASEAN's new charter, which seeks to set standards of human rights and democracy for member states.

Questions Over Siew Kum Hong's Role As AWARE 'Legal Adviser'

2009-05-15T17:08:00.000+08:00

Today ran this article on 15 May 2009:

Questions over Siew Kum Hong's role as AWARE 'legal adviser'
By Loh Chee Kong

SINGAPORE: After being accused on the Internet of pushing the gay agenda, Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Siew Kum Hong now finds himself defending his professional conduct following his active role in the recent Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) saga.

TODAY has learnt of an email seeking clarification on whether Mr Siew – a non-practising lawyer – had contravened the Legal Profession Act by rendering pro-bono legal advisory work.

It was sent to four bodies: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), the Law Society, the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) and the Singapore Academy of Law.

Neither the AGC nor the Law Society, which govern the conduct of lawyers, was able to respond by press time. SCCA president Angeline Lee said her association was "looking into this matter".

Corporate counsels are not considered to be practising lawyers, who need to renew their practising certificates every year. Section 33 of the Legal Profession Act prohibits any person without such a certificate from providing the services of an advocate or solicitor.

Offenders could be fined up to S$25,000, or jailed for a maximum of six months.

When contacted, the sender of the email, Mr Tongel Yeo, 51, stressed that it was "not about Siew Kum Hong", but the wider question on the extent that corporate counsels could "represent to people that we are legal advisers".

Mr Yeo, himself a corporate counsel who sits on the board of the charity group Methodist Welfare Services, said he had been a passive onlooker in the AWARE saga. He did not attend the extraordinary meeting on May 2, but read the subsequent newspaper reports.

He said: "That's when I read that he was reported to have claimed he was a legal adviser and going to his website, it appears that's what he was doing – advising them."

In response, Mr Siew, who is seeking a second NMP term, was confident he had not breached any regulations.

Reiterating that he was "at all time, cognisant of the fact that I do not hold a practising certificate", Mr Siew said: "It was the members of the Old Guard of AWARE who described me as their legal adviser. I did not hold myself up as such."

He did advise them "on a variety of matters, including my own views on the Constitution of AWARE".

But he stressed: "I believe that all in-house counsels – and in fact, all trained lawyers – do from time to time, state their views of what the law in a specific situation would be, in the context and capacity other than being an advocate or solicitor."

He added: "I hope this is not part of what seems to be an ongoing, orchestrated campaign to target me."

While the legal bodies have not yet sought Mr Siew's response, he said he was considering writing to them to express his position.

Media Coverage "Not Sufficiently Balanced" at Times

2009-05-15T16:12:00.002+08:00

Today ran this article on 15 May 2009:

Media coverage "not sufficiently balanced" at times
By Zul Othman

SINGAPORE: The daily coverage by selected media of the month-long leadership tussle at the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) was, in the words of Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, "extensive" and "breathless".

However, he also found some of the coverage "excessive" and "not sufficiently balanced".

In response to questions from TODAY regarding the coverage by selected media during the AWARE saga, Mr Wong said that although there were important issues to be addressed – such as the proper limits for religious activism – it was "surely not the most important challenge facing Singapore".

"Whatever happened in AWARE was not going to change Singapore or the government's social policy," said Mr Wong, who is also the Home Affairs Minister.

Mr Wong said the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA) had analysed the objectivity of the coverage of the AWARE episode and "found it wanting in some respects". MICA has given its feedback to the relevant editors.

Singapore Management University Assistant Professor Eugene Tan said that "it was possible" that some reporters "were caught up" in the month-long AWARE drama that began on March 28 after a team of newcomers seized nine out 12 positions on its exco.

"Perhaps, it a natural reaction because of their (reporters') own personal views. Still, this is when professionalism comes in – to separate personal views so one can report on the events objectively," he said. These views, Asst Prof Tan said, led to reports that polarised public opinion.

Some felt that selected media had adopted a very liberal attitude and denounced the Old Guard exco's strong views on homosexuality.

But gays and their supporters might have felt that "the papers did not come down hard enough on what was perceived as a religion coming into a secular space", Asst Prof Tan added.

In his email interview with TODAY, Mr Wong warned against the importing of "culture wars between the extreme liberals and conservatives" common in countries, such as the United States.

To ensure that Singapore remains a "communally peaceful society", there is a need to observe "the rules of engagement", Mr Wong said. This also applies to the media - when reporting on the issues, journalists should do it "dispassionately and impartially".

As for those who participate in the Internet, Mr Wong said: "Ultimately, he remains no less accountable for the consequences of his actions in cyberspace as he does in the physical world".

Myanmar Under Intense Pressure to Free Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-05-15T15:21:00.001+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this AFP article on 15 May 2009:

Myanmar under intense pressure to free Aung San Suu Kyi

YANGON: Myanmar faced intense international pressure on Friday to release pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi after she was imprisoned ahead of a new trial next week for breaching the terms of her house arrest.

The ruling military government took the Nobel Peace Prize laureate from her home on Thursday to Yangon's notorious Insein prison, where she was charged over a bizarre incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside residence.

The United States led Western calls for her immediate release while rights groups urged the UN Security Council to intervene to help the 63-year-old, whose trial is due to start at the prison on Monday.

There was no comment from Myanmar's secretive regime, which has kept Aung San Suu Kyi in detention for most of the last 19 years and now looks set to do so past controversial elections that are due next year.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she was "deeply troubled" by the "baseless" case laid against Aung San Suu Kyi just days before her latest six-year detention was to have expired.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "gravely concerned" while the UN special envoy on human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, called for Aung San Suu Kyi to be freed, and said her detention broke the country's laws.

Britain, France and other western nations – which like the United States have imposed sanctions on the country formerly known as Burma – condemned the decision and said it did not bode well for the 2010 elections.

A group of eminent statesmen including South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former US President Jimmy Carter also demanded her release.

Indonesia became the first of Myanmar's partners in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to call for the military government to release Aung San Suu Kyi and drop the "arbitrary" new charges against her.

Myanmar authorities are currently holding Aung San Suu Kyi and her two maids, who were also charged, at a house inside the grounds of Insein Prison pending the trial, her lawyers have said.

Stopped by the military government from taking power after leading her National League for Democracy Party from winning a landslide victory in the country's last election in 1990, she now faces a maximum jail term of five years.

The case centred around a mysterious US national, John Yettaw, who was arrested last week after using a pair of homemade flippers to swim across a lake to Aung San Suu Kyi's crumbling house.

Reportedly a Mormon father of seven and Vietnam War veteran, the heavy-set 53-year-old also faces charges of violating the restricted area around her home and breaching immigration conditions.

His motives remain unclear but Irrawaddy magazine, published by Myanmar exiles in Thailand, dismissed speculation about the coincidental timing of the incident before the expiry of her detention order.

It said he was "simply a weird character who acted alone", while Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyers have described him as a "fool".

Yettaw had also met with Myanmar exile groups in Thailand and reportedly told them he was working on a faith-based book on heroism, the magazine said.

New York-based Human Rights Watch called on the UN's Ban to press the authorities for her release, accusing the Myanmar military government of taking advantage of the US man's "bizarre stunt" to keep Aung San Suu Kyi detained.

Amnesty International demanded that the UN Security Council "urgently intervene" to secure her release.

US Tells Myanmar to Release Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-05-15T15:18:00.001+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this AFP article on 15 May 2009:

US tells Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi

WASHINGTON - The United States said Thursday that pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi should be released immediately after Myanmar's military brought new charges against her.

"I am ready to say something more than just that ... we're troubled," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters when asked if he would go further than a statement he released earlier in the day.

"Our bottom line is that she shouldn't be under house arrest. She shouldn't be, and even less so in prison," Kelly said. "Our bottom line is ... she should be released immediately."

Myanmar's military junta charged Aung San Suu Kyi Thursday with breaching the terms of her house arrest over a bizarre incident in which a US man swam to her lakeside house.

The 63-year-old goes on trial on Monday on the charges, which carry a jail term of up to five years and would stretch her detention past its supposed expiry date this month and through controversial elections due in 2010.

Aung San Suu Kyi would not be allowed to return home but would be held at a special house on the grounds of Insein Prison while proceedings were under way, her lawyer Kyi Win added.

In a statement released earlier, Kelly said: "We have seen this report (about the new charges), which is certainly troubling if true."

NMP Hopeful Beatrice Chia Flattered to Be Considered 'Dangerous'

2009-05-15T15:13:00.000+08:00

Today ran this story on 15 May 2009:

NMP hopeful Beatrice Chia flattered to be considered 'dangerous'
By Neo Chai Chin

SINGAPORE: She says she is flattered to be considered "more dangerous than Siew Kum Hong", after submitting her application for the post of a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP).

And theatre practitioner Beatrice Chia-Richmond has "absolutely no issue with netizens voicing their opinions, approvals or disapprovals", even after reading the scorching comments on the government's REACH website on Thursday night.

TODAY had reported about the deluge of comments to REACH's thread on NMP candidates, and on Thursday night, the number of posts and page views tripled from a day earlier, with 337 comments and 5,661 hits as of 10.45pm.

While some accused NMP hopefuls Chia-Richmond and theatre director Loretta Chen, as well as incumbent Siew of having a "personal agenda", others defended Mr Siew's record in Parliament.

Ms Chia-Richmond said she welcomed the netizens' feedback, although many of her friends were mortified by some of the scathing remarks.

"I would say that it might be too early to presume the issues I would be voicing should I have the opportunity to be in Parliament," she said.

Her body of work has dealt with themes of discrimination, and the "gay theme has been featured often as it is an issue", she said, adding: "As a citizen of Singapore, a working artist, a wife and a young mother, I believe I have many other concerns besides LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) issues."

Some netizens like Chan Chow Phang believe the NMP nomination should not be determined by a single issue.

Another, Mr Bryan Tan, pointed out that then-First Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had said in 1989 that the NMP scheme was implemented to evolve a "consensual style of government where alternative views are heard and constructive dissent accommodated".

Mr Siew said he was heartened and comforted by those who had spoken in his favour. But many of those who oppose his re-nomination have "mischaracterised my position", and "there are a number of baseless accusations and misrepresentations there".

Ms Chen said she was "bemused by the comments", adding that as a "working-class artist" - her father was a clerk, mother a homemaker, and her brothers had to quit school early to work - she was capable of handling and raising issues for the arts, youth, elderly and disenfranchised.

"If you truly want an open harmonious society, you must allow for diversity," she added.

A REACH portal spokeswoman told TODAY that "the interest and discussion show that Singaporeans are not an apathetic lot and they will come forward to give views and feedback to REACH when they feel strongly about an issue, and we are heartened".

"As with every issue, there will always be diverse views, so it's not surprising to see different views being expressed on this issue, whether mature or less so," she said, adding that Parliament's NMP Select Committee will make an independent decision based on a set of evaluation criteria.

MP Had No Empathy

2009-05-15T10:50:00.004+08:00

This letter was published in the online edition of Today on 13 May 2009:

MP had no empathy
Letter from LAWRENCE LOH KIAH MUAN

It started with Member of Parliament (MP) Seng Han Thong being set on fire. Then came MP Denise Phua who was threatened by a rag-and-bone man. Recently, MP Cynthia Phua was subjected to a display of violence by a constituent.

Although these incidents are disturbing and a cause for concern, I wonder whether the constituents are solely to be blamed.

Allow me to relate my personal experience.

In February 2001, my older son died in a naval accident whilst serving National Service. In that year, my younger son was due for enlistment. A friend, a very active grassroots member, suggested that I approach my MP, for help in exploring the possibility of getting an exemption for my younger son. I was reluctant but he went ahead to fix an appointment for me at the Meet-The-People Session (MPS). I subsequently relented and he accompanied me there. It was in March 2001. That was my first appearance at a MPS, and it was to be my last.

I waited until midnight before I could meet the MP. Prior to this, he was given the case paper which detailed the objective of the meeting and the circumstances of my case.

When I entered the room, his first remark was “Yes, what can I do for you?”. There was no attempt at offering a word of sympathy or condolence. I then related my situation and said that both my wife and I were very traumatised.

His next remark “What traumatic, after two months, you won’t be traumatic?”. With that, I decided to end the meeting. And with that, my respect for him hit ground zero. I was too stunned and grief-stricken to react. Someone who was less-controlled and less-measured than me could have flown into a rage and become violent.

MPs are elected or appointed to serve the constituents. People who attend the MPS are those who have real problems and need help. In a lot of instances, they are stressed, distressed and troubled. What they need is a caring soul, a helping hand, a gentle voice, and words of hope and encouragement. To dispense these, MPs need good interpersonal skills and a high EQ. Arrogance, a patronizing, chiding and belittling attitude, aloofness and lack of empathy will only trigger acts of rashness and violence. Many of our politicians have a high IQ, some are scholars. However, a high IQ is not the only attribute needed in a political career. A high EQ is equally, if not more critical, especially when it comes to dealing with the constituents.

In my case, I would have felt good if my MP could have been a warm and caring person. If he could have been empathetic, consoling and helpful. All these qualities can only come from the heart, not from the mind.

How many of our MPs can stand up and be counted for this?

Religious Heads Welcome Govt's Position

2009-05-15T10:34:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times ran this article on 15 May 2009:

Religious heads welcome Govt's position
By Zakir Hussain, Political Correspondent

RELIGIOUS leaders have welcomed comments by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on the role of religious groups in the public sphere, and on the issue of homosexuality.

They reacted positively to Mr Wong's call for religious groups to be mindful of wider sensitivities when engaging in the public square.

The National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS), an umbrella body for key Protestant groups, noted that it will 'continue to engage responsibly in our society in a way that expresses our common concerns and aspirations for our nation'.

Q&A With DPM on Aware Saga

2009-05-15T10:08:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times ran this article on 14 May 2009:

Q&A with DPM on Aware saga

MR WONG Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister, replied on Thursday to queries from The Straits Times on the recent incident involving women's advocacy group Aware. This is the full text of his replies.

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is the issue behind the issue of the leadership takeover at Aware. The new exco members, mentored by veteran lawyer and lay church leader Thio Su Mien, justified their actions by arguing that Aware had veered towards the promotion of a gay and lesbian agenda in recent years. They argued that, like in the United States, there is now in Singapore a 'political homosexual agenda' that aims to push not only for decriminalisation of homosexuality, but also for same sex marriage. This last, they argued, would destroy the meaning of the family, and ultimately Singapore's social fabric.

What is the Government's stand on homosexuality? Has it changed? What is the Government's assessment of where the majority of Singaporeans stand on this? What grounds does the Government have for this assessment?

The Government's position on this issue is clear. It was stated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Parliament on October 2007, and it has not changed. In his speech, PM Lee said that Singapore is basically a conservative society and the conventional family, a heterosexual stable family, is the norm and the building block of our society. However, we recognise that homosexuals are part of our society.

They have a place in our society and are entitled to their private lives. This is the way the majority of Singaporeans want it to be - a stable society with traditional, heterosexual family values but with space for homosexuals to live their private lives and contribute to society.

The Government was not going to be pressured into changing its position on homosexuality before the takeover of Aware. Nor does the Government intend to change its position now that the old guard has recaptured Aware.

Pushing boundaries

What is the Government's stand on homosexuals trying to push their cause publicly? What are the dos and don'ts for them?

The debate on Sec 377A of the Penal Code showed how the homosexuality issue polarised our society. Advocates on both sides were passionate and vocal. In the recent Aware tussle, homosexuality was clearly a major issue to both sides. This is unproductive and divisive.

Our society will not reach consensus on this issue for a very long time to come. The way for homosexuals to have space in our society is to accept the informal limits which reflect the point of balance that our society can accept, and not to assert themselves stridently as gay groups do in the West.

We live in a diverse, multiracial and multi-religious society. Every group, whether religious or secular, has to live and let live, to exercise restraint and show mutual respect and tolerance. If any group pushes its agenda aggressively, there will be strong reactions from the other groups.

Government intervention, OB markers and NCCS

The Aware saga set a precedent for a secular organisation to be taken over by a group of people with common religious beliefs. Some have called it a dangerous precedent. What is the Government's view of this? What, precisely, is the danger from such an incident? Why did the Government not comment earlier?

Many Singaporeans were exercised by the leadership tussle in Aware, and have expressed their views, for and against, in our newspapers and on the Internet.

The Government has been very careful in its comments, especially before the EOGM, as it did not want to be misunderstood as taking sides. Who controls Aware is not important to the Government. As I said, Government policy on homosexuality is settled, and will not change as a result of lobbying by pressure groups.

However, the Government was worried about the disquieting public perception that a group of conservative Christians, all attending the same church, which held strong views on homosexuality, had moved in and taken over Aware because they disapproved of what Aware had been doing.

This caused many qualms among non-Christians, and also among Christians who believed that this was an unwise move in a multiracial, multi-religious society. It was much more dangerous because now religion was also getting involved, and it was no longer just the issue of homosexuality.

I was grateful therefore that Dr John Chew of the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) issued a clear statement that the NCCS does not condone churches getting involved in the Aware dispute. Leaders of different religious faiths have also come out to reinforce the NCCS message.

Their statements provided clear guidance to their followers. I felt it was important for me to endorse the NCCS statement publicly, and explain the Government's deeper concerns. Had it not been for these sober statements from religious leaders, we would have had serious problems.

Rules of engagement for religious groups and individuals

Religious leaders may find themselves caught in a bind on the Aware issue. For example, they may be against homosexuality. But they may also be against the tactics used by those who subsequently formed the new exco. Should they speak up?

Pastor Derek Hong of the Church of Our Saviour used the pulpit to urge his flock to support the new exco in Aware. What is the Government's stand on this? What causes may be urged from the pulpit, and what may not? How should religious leaders conduct themselves to ensure that harmony in Singapore is not undermined?

Religious individuals have the same rights as any citizen to express their views on issues in the public space, as guided by their teachings and personal conscience. However, like every citizen, they should always be mindful of the sensitivities of living in a multi-religious society.

All religious groups will naturally teach their followers to follow the precepts of their scriptures, to do good and to contribute to their society. The groups will naturally have views on social and moral issues. But we are not a Christian Singapore, or a Muslim Singapore, or a Buddhist or Hindu Singapore. We are a secular Singapore, in which Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and others all have to live in peace with one another. This calls for tolerance, accommodation, and give and take on all sides.

If religious groups start to campaign to change certain government policies, or use the pulpit to mobilise their followers to pressure the Government, or push aggressively to gain ground at the expense of other groups, this must lead to trouble. Keeping religion and politics separate is a key rule of political engagement.

Political arena must be secular

Given that most people would consider religion part of civil society, can a boundary between religion and civil society be drawn? What is the Government's position on where to draw the line?

Religious groups and individuals who hold deep religious beliefs are often active in social issues, and make important contributions to the well-being of our society. Individuals who commit themselves to social or public service are often motivated by their religious convictions. And many religious groups do good work serving people in need, regardless of religious affiliations. We welcome that. They set the moral tone of our society, and are a source of strength in times of adversity.

However, our political arena must always be a secular one. Our laws and policies do not derive from religious authority, but reflect the judgments and decisions of the secular Government and Parliament to serve the national interest and collective good. These laws and public policies apply equally to all, regardless of one's race, religion or social status. This gives confidence that the system will give equal treatment and protection for all, regardless of which group one happens to belong to.

Calm down and move on

What is your comment on the Aware EOGM held on May 2, which resulted in the new exco being voted out?

I think the Aware episode showed clearly how passions and emotions naturally run high when it concerns an issue or cause salient to people's beliefs or interests. The EOGM was an emotional meeting with many heated exchanges. It was not a model of calm deliberation and patient consensus building. Both sides must now calm down and move on.

Impact on civil society

Overall, what is the Government's view of the leadership tussle at Aware? Does the Government expect to see more of such incidents?

Singaporeans are becoming more educated and informed, and we are opening up more space for people to express alternative views. I have no doubt that we will see more tussles between people holding different points of view, often anchored in their personal convictions and beliefs, on issues which they consider vitally important.

Many different communities share this tiny island. If our diversity is not to become a source of weakness, we must manage such disagreements in a responsible and balanced manner. We can articulate our views passionately without denigrating others; we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable.

The Government has to maintain order, and hold the ring impartially. It encourages the development of civic society, and gradual widening of the OB markers. But it will not stand by and watch when intemperate activism threatens our social fabric.

Observing balance and moderation, including media reporting

Some people argue that the current climate in Singapore is such that those who are against homosexuality are afraid to speak out, for fear of being branded bigots or religious fanatics, while those who advocate tolerance for homosexuality speak out freely and are deemed inclusive. Does the Government agree with such an assessment of the climate in Singapore?

I do not believe that those who are against homosexuality are afraid to speak out. However, I would caution restraint on both sides, for and against. We must not import into Singapore the culture wars between the extreme liberals and conservatives that are going on in the US.

On the whole, our religious communities have played a positive role in our society. The maturity of our religious leaders and the restraint and sense of responsibility of their followers have helped to make this a communally peaceful society. We must keep it that way by observing the rules of engagement.

This applies also to the media. The media plays an important role reporting on the issues, the groups and the personalities involved. They need to do so dispassionately and impartially. Mica had analysed the volume, tone and objectivity of the coverage of the Aware episode, and found it wanting in some respects. Some of the coverage was excessive and not sufficiently balanced.

There were indeed important issues at stake, such as the proper limits for religious activism. But the Aware episode was surely not the most important challenge facing Singapore, deserving such extensive and even breathless coverage. Whatever happened in Aware was not going to change Singapore, or the Government's social policy. Journalists should not get caught up in the stories they are reporting, however exciting the stories may be.

(The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts has given this feedback to the editors.)

Government's Position on Homosexuality Unchanged

2009-05-14T23:59:00.000+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this article on 14 May 2009:

Government's position on homosexuality unchanged
By Julia Ng

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Government has said it welcomes religious groups and individuals getting active in social issues. But it has warned against mixing religion with politics.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said this, in an interview to be published in the TODAY newspaper on Friday, on the recent saga involving the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE).

Mr Wong added that the government's position on homosexuality is clear, and it will not be pressured into changing its position as a result of lobbying by pressure groups.

Two years ago, during the debate on whether to decriminalise sex between men, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had clearly stated that the conventional family, a heterosexual stable family is the norm and building block of Singapore society.

But the government also recognises that homosexuals are part of the society. Mr Lee had said then: "Homosexuals work in all sectors, all over the economy, in the public sector as well and in the civil service. They are free to lead their lives, free to pursue their social activities."

That position has not changed. Mr Wong said: "The government was not going to be pressured into changing its position on homosexuality before the takeover of AWARE. Nor does the government intend to change its position now that the Old Guard has recaptured AWARE."

He added that as Singaporeans become more educated and informed, and more space is being opened up for people to express alternative views, there will be more tussles between people holding different points of views.

If any group pushes its agenda aggressively, there will be strong reactions from other groups.

As for the AWARE controversy, the government was worried about the disquieting public perception that a group of conservative Christians - all attending the same church, which held strong views on homosexuality - had moved in and taken over AWARE because they disapproved of what the organisation had been doing.

Hence, he was gratified that the National Council of Churches of Singapore issued a clear statement that it does not condone churches getting involved in the AWARE dispute, and that leaders of different religious faiths came out to reinforce the NCCS message.

Mr Wong said the government has to maintain order impartially. It encourages the development of civic society, and gradual widening of the out-of-bounds (OB) markers. But it will not stand by and watch, when intemperate activism threatens Singapore society.

Asked for his comments on the May 2 AWARE extraordinary general meeting, which saw the new exco being voted out, Mr Wong said both sides must now calm down, and move on.

Time to Tweak NMP Nomination Process

2009-05-14T16:19:00.000+08:00

Today ran this article on 14 May 2009:

Time to tweak NMP nomination process
By Loh Chee Kong

SINGAPORE: When it was first mooted, the Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) scheme was the subject of intense debate.

But 19 years on, it is still going strong. And as Parliament prepares to accept a new slate of NMPs, it may be a good time to take another look – not at the scheme itself – but the way in which up to nine NMPs are chosen every three years.

The question is this: Is the process by which the candidates are selected – namely the calling of nominations from six "functional groups" – outdated?

It was back in 1997 when then-Leader of the House Wong Kan Seng – citing the lukewarm response to the NMP scheme – proposed to Parliament that apart from waiting for Singaporeans to step forward, it would appoint nomination panels from the business and industry; professions; and labour movement groups.

Five years later, media, arts and sports organisations; tertiary education institutions; and social and community service organisations, were added to the list. These groups can nominate up to two persons each.

Jurong GRC MP Halimah Yacob, who had been on the committee vetting the candidates, said it was preferable to have at least one NMP from each functional group.

Said Mdm Halimah: "I wouldn't say ... they carry greater weight, but obviously, it shows that the groups support them."

But some feel that the practice has outlived its usefulness. Do you agree ?

For one, the NMPs cannot claim to be representative of the functional groups, since they are not elected.

Retired MP Tan Cheng Bock, a long-time critic of the scheme, believes that the selection process is skewed towards the "well-heeled" and influential.

"The real people you need to hear from (in Parliament) are the taxi drivers and the hawkers," he said.

The latest nomination exercise closed on Monday, with the final tally still unknown. But if the upward trend in recent years is anything to go by, few would be surprised if the number exceeds the record of 48 set in the previous round of nominations in 2006.

"If (the practice) was seen as a way of surfacing candidates back then, then you kind of need to question whether that objective is still relevant today," said Mr Siew Kum Hong, a former NMP who was nominated by friends.

It is often unclear which of the NMPs were nominated by which functional groups – even after they had been appointed. The groups themselves have traditionally been tight-lipped about who they nominate.

Urging greater transparency and accountability, Mr Siew added those appointed with the backing of a particular functional group might feel obliged to speak only on "functional issues".

Law academic Thio Li-ann, who was nominated by the tertiary institutions, said there were "no expectations at all" on her to focus on educational issues.

While the underlying assumption of the NMP scheme is that NMPs would "speak with a different voice from an elected MP", the former NMP's own experience tells her that "a lot of it depends on the person".

For example, NMPs whose terms ended recently, such as Ms Jessie Phua, Ms Cham Hui Fong and Mr Edwin Khew – who were presumably nominated by their respective functional groups of sports, labour movement and professions – rarely strayed from their fields.

And Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Inderjit Singh preferred it that way.

"There are enough of us within the opposition and the PAP MPs providing debate on the normal issues," said Mr Singh.

Then, there is also the question whether the House really needs a labour NMP, when there are already five MPs – including a minister – who are closely identified with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

Mdm Halimah pointed out that the labour MPs have to fulfil other commitments, such as taking care of their constituents.

She said: "Obviously, our focus is a lot broader ... so I think having a labour NMP is helpful."

Three NMP Hopefuls Come Under Fire

2009-05-14T08:07:00.001+08:00

Today ran this article on 14 May 2009:

Three NMP hopefuls come under fire
By Leong Wee Keat,

SINGAPORE: Barely had they thrown their names into the hat for the post of Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) when the criticisms began on the government feedback website, REACH.

NMP hopefuls Loretta Chen and Beatrice Chia-Richmond – along with incumbent Siew Kum Hong, who is seeking a second term – have been accused of being "homosexuality activists" by some Netizens.

Postings on REACH questioned if their applications, in the words of one, were "a back door for more pro-LGBTs (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender)" to have a voice in Parliament. The debate has set REACH's thread on NMP candidates abuzz.

First opened for comments on May 1, the thread picked up steam since last Thursday and has attracted 93 postings and more than 1,400 page views as of last night. In comparison, the thread on Influenza A (H1N1) has attracted eight comments.

With his role as a legal adviser in the recent AWARE leadership saga, Mr Siew, 34, bore the brunt of the criticisms; many accused him of "pushing homosexual lifestyle" and of being "against the majority Singaporean".

On the other hand, Ms Chia-Richmond, 34, and Ms Chen, 32, both arts practitioners, came under fire for their past projects, which forumer 'Very Worried!!' alleged about Ms Chia-Richmond's application "is far more serious and worrying than Siew Kum Hong being re-nominated".

Ms Chen, a theatre director, has been charged as being "no different". "She's openly gay and has also directed films with mainly controversial themes," wrote forumer 'isay'.

When asked about this, Ms Chen said, "I am who I am and I don't intend to pretend to be someone that I am not. If you can be honest to yourself, you can then be honest to the team you are leading and only then you can be honest to society at large."

Ms Chen, who hopes to speak up on arts, youth and elderly issues, added, "I don't see this NMP as a backdoor (for LGBT issues). Human beings are capable of being multi-dimensional, multi-perspective and multi-layered. I think it's sad when some Singaporeans choose to be so single-minded and so single-focused that you can only be defined by your sexuality or by your race or your religion."

Ms Chia, who is married and a mother of one, could not be reached for comment last night.

When contacted, Mr Siew said he had not seen the full comments posted on REACH, but has seen similar objections to his re-application online. He also received several emails.

"It seems there's some effort to organise a campaign to target me," he said. "It does bother me to be a target, to be singled out for expressing a sincerely held opinion."

Mr Siew, who is married and is a corporate lawyer, reiterated that he does not support homosexuality but is rather against discrimination, which is why he sought to repeal the law against gay sex in 2007.

The criticisms on REACH is another sign that the two camps – those with concerns over the gay agenda and those seeking more equality for gays – are turning to "mainstream portals" as their sounding boards, according to Singapore Management University assistant professor Eugene Tan.

"The two groups are fairly educated and are not afraid to use the new media to draw and canvass for support," he said.

Feedback on REACH is typically passed to the relevant agencies.

But Mr Siew hopes the Special Select Committee of eight MPs will evaluate his record in Parliament, which he feels "speaks for itself" as he had spoken out on numerous topics.

"The only thing I hope is that rational minds will prevail," he added.

The panel, led by Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi, will make its recommendations to President SR Nathan after it has interviewed the candidates. The new NMP term begins in July.

Sex Education in Singapore

2009-05-13T18:00:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 12 May 2009:

Sexuality 101

Last Wednesday, the Education Ministry said that it would suspend all external sexuality education programmes which organisations offer schools.

This followed complaints about the programme provided by Aware, which projects homosexuality as a 'neutral' activity.

Here is a run-down of the programmes that are or have been offered.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (MOE)

What is taught: In the formal curriculum, topics on sexuality are incorporated in Science, Health Education and Civics, and Moral education lessons.

A co-curricular element was introduced in 2000 in the form of the Growing Years package.

This is divided into four segments.

The Curious Minds segment is for upper primary students experiencing the onset of puberty. It stresses the importance of character development and health. The multimedia content includes interactive games and role-play.

Topics include the reproductive system, pubertal changes and coping strategies, building healthy relationships and the importance of family.

The Teenage Years package for lower secondary students guides them on issues related to building self-esteem, why chastity and abstinence are important, and the consequences of pre-marital sex.

The Sense And Sexuality package for upper secondary students takes the view that this period of life is turbulent, leading youths to act on impulse, make short-sighted choices and experiment with activities, including sex.

It covers topics such as a better understanding of relationships, setting boundaries and understanding the influence of the media on sexuality.

The Love Matters segment for junior colleges and centralised institutes focuses on interpersonal relationships - touching on human development, sexual health and behaviour, and society and culture.

Is homosexuality discussed?

It is covered in one lesson in the lower secondary package.

Said an MOE spokesman: 'The lesson seeks to inform students of the definition of 'homosexual', and that homosexual acts are illegal under Singapore law.

'It does not promote homosexuality but follows social norms of mainstream society.'

AWARE

What is taught: The programme started in 2007 and has reached 11 schools so far. A maximum of 25 participants is allowed per workshop, which lasts three hours each time, either during or after school hours.

The programme was designed and drawn from an international workshop by the International Women's Health Coalition. Focus groups on the programme were also conducted in post-secondary institutions, and with teachers and parents.

The instructors' guide lists its objectives as helping participants to 'develop a healthy and positive attitude towards sexuality' and empowering them 'in their decision-making about their sexual life'.

The content ranges from HIV and Aids to other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), to contraception as well as relationship and body image issues.

Participants are taught that sexuality is normal but they should consider the consequences of teenage pregnancy and STIs.

They are also taught how to say 'no' if they are being pressured into sex and how to believe that they are worthy of a good relationship, no matter what people tell them.

Is homosexuality discussed?

The instructors' manual - which is not revealed to students - suggests that it be treated as neutral as 'it is perfectly normal... simply the way you are'.

Trainers have to follow some segments of this manual closely, such as teaching about risky sex and STIs, but the rest depends on how much time they have and the questions students ask.

The materials also include condoms and a 'simulated penis' to teach participants how to put on condoms.

Virginity is also suggested as a neutral term, or a 'a state of mind' as it may not necessarily be physical.

For example, girls may be considered virgins if they have not experienced being in a sexual relationship with men.

Anal sex is also suggested as a neutral term. A suggested explanation for this is that 'anal sex can be healthy or neutral if practised with consent and with a condom'.

The manual notes: 'Not having sex is the best way of preventing Aids and STI, but if you choose to be sexually active, using condoms correctly and consistently is a key way to reduce risk.'

SINGAPORE PLANNED PARENTHOOD ASSOCIATION (SPPA)

What is taught: The voluntary non-profit organisation has been conducting talks and workshops for schools, the public and other organisations for over 20 years. There are no religious links to the programme.

On average, 10 schools a year go through the programme and students are between 13 and 16 years old.

The workshops are three hours long while assembly talks are an hour. The content was developed by officers from teacher's feedback and approved by the board of SPPA.

Said SPPA administrator Joanne Tan: 'We have some fixed topics such as basic biology, relationships, being able to tell the difference between love and infatuation, and peer pressure.'

Case studies are used to show the difference between a crush and real love.

For students in Secondary 3 and 4, the talks also cover pre-marital sex.

The consequences of relationships, such as unwanted pregnancy and abortion, are also broached.

The SPPA promotes abstinence but not exclusively. Said Ms Tan: 'Our main message is to put out all the facts and ask them to make a careful choice. Sex should be without guilt or painful consequences.' The talks also briefly touch on contraception.

Is homosexuality discussed?

It is mentioned in the context of growing up. Said Ms Tan: 'We tell them it is normal to feel confused at that age and provide a hotline if students want to ask questions.'

FAMILY LIFE SOCIETY

What is taught: The non-profit organisation directed by the Catholic Archbishop of Singapore has held talks in schools since 1985.

In the past five years, it has been invited to about 25 schools a year. Talks range from 40-minute sessions at assembly to four-hour workshops for children from 11 to 18 years of age.

More often than not, they are invited to secular schools. The syllabus focuses on sexuality and the person as a whole rather than just sex. The programme was set up by a group of doctors and parents.

Said principal programme executive Michelle Soliano-Lew: 'We develop materials based on the natural moral law. This is secular moral philosophy without any reference to God, religion, scripture or divine revelation.'

Topics include boy-girl relationships, pornography, pregnancy and choices, as well as abortion and its possible consequences. The talks promote a pro-life and pro-family message.

Is homosexuality discussed? The society's stance is that the act is wrong.

'But we do not condemn the person,' said Ms Soliano-Lew.

'We tell them that at their age, having an infatuation with a same sex peer is normal, but it does not mean they are homosexual or are going to be homosexual.'

They mention it is illegal but a religious point of view is not used.

The classes also discuss pre-marital sex, focusing on the positive worth of abstinence, such as not having to worry about pregnancy.

FEI YUE COMMUNITY SERVICES

What is taught: Fei Yue Community Services, an independent society, started in 1991 as Fei Yue Family Service Centre. It was founded by the Chinese Christian Mission, a faith-based organisation.

It has been conducting sex education classes since 2007. These are held in 18 schools. But the classes are not just for students. Instead, said Madam Evelyn Khong, manager and family life educator, classes are held for parents or parents with teens.

The curriculum includes discussions about changes and differences in the physical, social, emotional and intellectual attributes of males and females.

The classes for parents and teenagers are four hours long on weekends, with role-play segments.

Love, sex and relationships are explored but religion is not raised.

Said Madam Khong: 'We advocate 'save sex' in that students should save sex for their dream man or woman.

'Sex is not bad. However, sex outside marriage can have consequences like guilt, fear and disease.'

Abortion and its physical, emotional and social consequences are also discussed.

Is homosexuality discussed?

Madam Khong said it is seldom discussed, apart from focusing on the fact that nature has made individuals what they are meant to be.

'If you are made a boy, you're meant to be a boy and vice-versa. We see homosexuality more as a lifestyle choice, so we do not discuss that.

'Ultimately, they have to decide what lifestyle they choose and the price they have to pay,' she said.

The classes also focus on communication so that parents will be equipped with the tools to beef up their children's self-esteem and ability to say 'no' to unwanted encounters.

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY SINGAPORE

What is taught: Local charity Focus on the Family Singapore was launched in 2002 to strengthen Singapore families.

It is based on Focus on the Family from the United States, a pro-life, Christian organisation.

A four-hour interactive workshop called No Apologies caters to youths aged 12 to 18. Introductory assembly talks are also conducted for secondary schools.

Since 2002, 44 schools have taken part. The schools that take part are mainly non-religious schools.

Said a spokesman for Focus on the Family: 'No Apologies seeks to empower and challenge young people to choose abstinence from sex until marriage so as to live life with no regrets.'

It does not call pre-marital sex wrong.

In keeping with the positive message of abstinence, graphic or detailed material regarding pre-martial sex that is considered disturbing or demeaning to participants is not used.

The advantages as well as disadvantages of premarital sex, such as abortion, are discussed.

Religion is not discussed as the programme is tailored for all students.

Is homosexuality discussed?

Homosexuality is not part of the standard curriculum but can be addressed upon request as a separate additional workshop.

Who Wants to Be an NMP? They Do ...

2009-05-12T09:14:00.001+08:00

Today ran this story on 12 May 2009:

Who wants to be an NMP? They do...
By Derrick Paulo and Ong Dai Lin
Additional reporting by Genevieve Loh

SHE was unsuccessful two years ago, but Ms Jolyn Chua is reapplying to be a Nominated Member of Parliament.

The honorary secretary of crime awareness group Crime Library walked in to Parliament House yesterday with her forms and the same passion that motivated her at her first attempt. “I’m looking to have Singapore become more supportive of crime victims.

“There’s no comprehensive package to service them. ... In terms of consoling and support groups, (the support) is zero,” said the 43-year-old. She was one of several who submitted their names as the 4.30pm deadline loomed.

Today counted 11 - in addition to those being nominated by six groups from different sectors of society - who turned up on a rainy afternoon, including theatre practitioner Beatrice Chia-Richmond.

The last person to make it, businessman Lim Beng Cheng, had five minutes to spare as his taxi arrived outside Parliament House.

“I was quite anxious … I was afraid I had missed the deadline, as I was busy attending to other matters before this,” said the 48-year-old who identified the environment and energy as areas of interest.

The silver population had its proponent in Mr Chia Sze Soon, president of the Active Retirees’ Association and a former business editor of Lianhe Zaobao. But the 65-year-old conceded his chances of becoming NMP were “very slim”. “It’s very competitive … I hope that whoever gets in, someone will speak on the behalf of the old people.”

That person could still come from social and community service organisations, for which National Council of Social Service CEO Ang Bee Lian is the coordinator to submit names to Parliament.

NCSS, however, referred Today to the Parliament Secretariat, which was unable to reply by press time about the final tally of applications.

For its part, coordinator for the professions, The Academy of Medicine Singapore, said it considered eight individuals and was nominating two who have “skills and context in the areas we feel are important and relevant in the current climate, namely healthcare and IT”.

Business and industry will have three names for the Special Select Committee, chaired by Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi. The Singapore Business Federation convened a meeting as early as April 23 to discuss the potential candidates with the local business chambers and trade associations.

The labour movement nominee is almost certain to be Terry Lee, president of the Singapore Insurance Employees Union and a central committee member of the National Trades Union Congress.

But it is not known who from the tertiary educational institutions could join him. Today was unable to get through to incumbent NMP, law professor Thio Li-ann, 41, who had been earlier undecided about re-applying.

But Mr Siew Kum Hong, 34, was at Parliament yesterday to re-apply.

And along with her theatre peers Audrey Wong and Loretta Chen, Ms Chia-Richmond, 34, finally threw her name in the hat after discussing the matter with her family.

Asked what she would raise in Parliament, she said, “First and foremost, I’m a citizen of Singapore, a working artist and a young mother and wife. This would serve me well.”

Labour Chief: The Storm Isn't Over Yet

2009-05-11T23:54:00.000+08:00

News radio station 938LIVE ran this story on 11 May 2009:

The storm isn't over yet, says labour chief

SINGAPORE: Labour chief Lim Swee Say has warned workers to brace themselves for a possible second wave of retrenchments.

He was speaking to reporters at a job fair on Monday.

"I think the first quarter was very bad for the manufacturing sector. The second quarter, we saw some positive signs. The question is, whether these positive signs can last through the third quarter and beyond. We are holding our breaths in looking at what's happening in the second quarter. But our greater concerns are the third and fourth quarters," he said.

Some 9,000 workers in the manufacturing sector lost their jobs in the first quarter, mainly from the electronics industry with the unemployment rate rising to 3.2 per cent.

Mr Lim stressed that the local labour movement does not believe the recession is ending soon, despite some experts saying that the economy may have gone through its worst patch.

"We continue to see job losses in USA. We continue to see unemployment rates going up in USA. While the world may be starting to gamble with their money in the stock market, here in Singapore, we cannot afford to gamble the job of workers. What we have to do is to continue to stay on course. We continue to commit to this policy of retrenchments as a last resort," he said.

He added that these gloomy times also present the best opportunity for businesses to expand.

Not only is it now more cost effective to do so, Mr Lim said, the recession has also made it easier for companies look out for suitable candidates to join their payroll.

Mas Selamat Hid in Small Village in Johor

2009-05-11T11:58:00.000+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this story on 11 May 2009:

Mas Selamat hid in small village in Johor
By Zaki Amrullah

Mas Selamat lived in a picturesque traditional stilted house, surrounded by fruit trees, in a tiny village in Johor state

SKUDAI, JOHOR BAHRU: Residents in Malaysia's Johor town of Skudai who came into contact with Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat Kastari have painted differing profiles of the man.

Some described him as aloof while others said he was polite and easy to talk to.

It seems that Mas Selamat had found the perfect hiding place in Malaysia after his escape from Singapore's Whitley Road Detention Centre in February last year.

The fugitive stayed in a secluded village in Malaysia's south before he was recaptured on 1 April.

The village, called Kampong Tawakal, is about 10 kilometres off the North-South Highway near the Kempas exit.

The village has less than 100 people.

Neighbours said Mas Selamat arrived last August and stayed at an un-numbered house.

"He was like an ordinary person. He seemed very pious. You must understand, a pious man doesn't want to mix around nor discuss trivialities. When we met, he only greeted us with "May peace be upon you, Haji." We were headed to the prayer hall. We also didn't ask who he was," said neighbour Jamian Simin.

But there was another side to Mas Selamat. Some described him as a respectful person who loved to fish at a nearby canal.

"He was a nice guy, his attitude was good. He was soft-spoken and respectful to me. I called him 'elder brother'. But when we spoke, he wouldn't face me but looked left, right and up. He wouldn't look me in the eye," said a resident.

During his stay in the village, Mas Selamat did odd jobs and laid low.

He trimmed vegetation, planted banana trees and tapioca and bathed from a well nearby.

Singapore Government Confirms Arrest of Mas Selamat

2009-05-08T18:05:00.001+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this story on 8 May 2009:

Singapore government confirms arrest of Mas Selamat
By Asha Popatlal

SINGAPORE: The Singapore government has confirmed the arrest of fugitive Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari who escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre more than a year ago.

In a statement on Friday, Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry said: "Mas Selamat has been arrested by the Malaysian Special Branch (MSB) in a joint operation between the MSB and the Internal Security Department (ISD)."

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said Singapore is happy that Mas Selamat has been arrested.

Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD) had worked hard and looked at every lead, sharing information with its Malaysian counterpart.

Mr Wong, who was speaking to reporters at the Home Affairs Ministry on Friday, added that the Malaysian Special Branch has done excellent work.

Both parties have a longstanding cordial relationship which resulted in the arrest of Mas Selamat on April 1.

For now, the JI leader will remain in Malaysia as the authorities there want to continue interviewing him.

The deputy prime minister said Singaporeans must maintain vigilance and not let their guard down following Mas Selamat's arrest as the terror threat is real and Singapore is a prime target.

With Singapore's long coastline, Mr Wong said Singaporeans must not assume the country is safe as there are other JI members who have not been detained.

He said Mas Selamat will be sent to the Whitley Road Detention Centre again when he is brought back to Singapore.

Mr Wong added that the centre is now a different place compared to what it was when the JI leader escaped on February 27 last year.

He also revealed that Mas Selamat had used an improvised flotation device to escape from the north shore of Singapore to Johor Bahru.

Separately, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S Iswaran said the arrest of Mas Salamat is a welcome piece of news to Singaporeans.

He said the JI leader's arrest speaks highly of security forces involved in the operation.

"It's a tribute to the professionalism of the intelligence agencies. They worked across borders with their partners to secure his eventual arrest."

Most Accept MOM's Settlement Offer

2009-05-07T08:54:00.003+08:00

The New Paper ran this story on 6 May 2009:

Most accept MOM's settlement offer

FOR these unhappy workers, their six-hour wait last week seems to have paid off - to some extent.

Yesterday, the workers claimed that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has paid more than $1,000 and provided a ticket back to China to each of them.

The New Paper reported last Tuesday that about 200 Chinese workers had gathered outside the MOM building at Havelock Road on Monday.

The workers, who were mainly from three companies, Hokh Contract Services, Raffles Contractors and Neo-Built, had gathered there to demand their outstanding wages.

They were also unhappy that their work permits were terminated without prior notice on 13 Apr.

MOM had revoked the permits of the workers from the three companies as the companies had failed to pay the foreign worker levy, failed to produce documents and physically produce their workers.

As a result of the termination, many workers had to forfeit part of the money they had paid their companies for 'expenses'.

About 400 workers who turned up at a meeting held at the MOM office at Kim Seng Road yesterday left the place with mixed feelings.

Eighty per cent of them accepted the offer of settlement, the MOM told The New Paper without going into details.

A former worker from Hokh Contract Services, who only wanted to be known as Mr Xu, said he was satisfied with the outcome.

The 30-year-old said: 'I cannot ask for more. They have done what they could. I know that some of my friends are not happy but it is not easy to satisfy all of us.'

Mr Zhou Degui, 50, felt that the sum offered was too small.

Mr Zhou, formerly from Neo-Built, said that the sum offered was small compared to what he was owed by the company.

A former Hokh Contract Services worker, Mr Fan Cheng Gui, 42, said that even though he was not satisfied, there is nothing he can do.

He said: 'And I've only been here for one month. You can just say that we are unlucky.'

According to a former Raffles Contractors employee, Mr Wang Yu, 37, each worker has to pay the companies amounts varying between $5,000 and $6,000 every year.

This sum would cover the total monthly expenses, such as insurance.

At the gathering last Monday, MOM officers had scheduled a meeting with the workers at the MOM office at Kim Seng Road yesterday so the matter could be discussed further.

The meeting, which started at 9am, lasted for about three hours.

The New Paper also understands that each worker was handled individually by the MOM officers.

More workers

Meanwhile, the New Paper saw another batch of workers from two other companies gathered outside the MOM premises yesterday.

Claiming to be from construction and engineering companies, they claimed they also faced the same problem of non-payment of wages.

Mr Wang Yu Shan, 42, a worker who was there with the new group, showed The New Paper four namecards from four companies which had the same addresses and telephone numbers.

Another worker from this group told The New Paper that the MOM had asked them to to come back tomorrow .

It is understood that the MOM will be releasing the details of the settlement of the cases in due course.

Teen Arrested for Violence at MP's Office

2009-05-07T08:51:00.002+08:00

The New Paper ran this story on 6 May 2009:

TEEN ARRESTED FOR VIOLENCE AT MP'S OFFICE
I'M SORRY
By Ng Tze Yong

A YOUTH with low IQ has been arrested by police after flying into a rage at a Meet-the-People Session (MPS), upset at what he felt was his MP's cold-shoulder treatment of his mother's financial plight.

The 17-year-old boy hoisted an aluminium foldable chair over his head and slammed it against a glass door seconds after walking out of MP Cynthia Phua's Serangoon North office with his mother.

The boy, who has been released on bail, has been told to report back to the police on 12 May, where he may be charged with committing a rash act.

The offence carries a jail term of up to six months and a fine of up to $2,500.

The youth cannot be named because of impending court proceedings.

This is the third incident in recent months involving MPs and their constituents.

The boy and his mother, 53, are familiar faces to the grassroots volunteers at the MPS.

The unwed mother with Primary 6 education gets by on a $400 monthly salary as a part-time cleaner.

He attended a special school and suffers from thalassemia, a blood disorder that renders him weak and sickly.

The mother said that things went from bad to worse in November 2004 when the boy's father disappeared and stopped paying the $300 monthly maintenance due to her.

As a result, she visited the MPS about once a month for the past few years to request for various kinds of financial aid.

January this year saw a crisis unfold in their lives, when the mother broke her wrist after falling off a chair while cleaning a fan. She hasn't worked since.

She said the HDB was then in the middle of repossessing her flat and giving her a rental unit, but she was unable to pay the $138 in rental deposit and stamp duty.

So last Monday, she went to the office at Block 125, Serangoon North Ave 1, where MP Lim Hwee Hua holds her MPS, hoping to have her sign an appeal letter for HDB.

But that day, Mrs Lim, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister's Office, was abroad. Fellow Aljunied GRC MP Cynthia Phua stood in for her.

The mother's request was granted - Madam Phua signed the letter - but mother and son left fuming, claiming that Madam Phua had put them down.

She claimed that shortly after they had entered the office, Madam Phua asked her son a series of questions:

'She asked him, 'Who are you? What are you doing? Why aren't you working?' she claimed.

The mother said she wanted to explain her son's condition, but wasn't given a chance.

'I felt like we were being scolded,' she said.

The meeting ended after two or three minutes, she said.

As they were walking out, the son snapped.

His outburst with the chair - two blows against the glass door, which didn't break - was 'strong enough to get someone killed', said the Serangoon PAP branch secretary, Mr Poon Mun Wai.

As grassroots volunteers scrambled to calm down the teenager, his mother begged a neighbour to whisk him home immediately.

Later that night, the police arrived at their flat and arrested him. He was released on bail at about 1am.

When contacted, Madam Phua contradicted the mother's version of events, saying she felt that their conversation 'went well'.

She said: 'Like any normal case at MPS, I have to try to understand the case first of all...

'I had to ask some pointed questions about his employment status to understand the root cause of the problem, so that I can be more effective in helping them.'

During the one week after the incident, the mother pondered what to do.

She got her son to shave off his shoulder-length orange-dyed hair to get rid of bad luck.

For days, she said, he couldn't find the courage to face himself in the mirror. He also decided to put on hold a long-time dream to audition for Singapore Idol.

Two days ago, she returned to the MPS again alone and clutching a handwritten letter of apology from her son.

'Please fodgive me for what I dad I am sinelely truely I'm sorry (sic),' the teenager had written in big, neat handwriting.

The apology, however, was not acceptable to Mrs Lim, who was back chairing the MPS after returning from abroad.

'I made it very clear to (the mother) that this is unacceptable behaviour. It is not justifiable in any circumstance. There's no excuse to be violent,' Mrs Lim told The New Paper.

She also explained that she was not in a position to excuse or forgive the boy.

'I was not present and the police are investigating into the matter. I believe the police will take into consideration the mitigating factors,' said Mrs Lim.

'From what I understand, Madam Phua was being very motherly and very helpful inside the room with them.'

Mrs Lim's response surprised the mother, who had spoken fondly of her throughout the interview with The New Paper just a day before.

She said: 'I know what my son did was wrong. But how can I not defend him? He is my son, he is not well and he has a problem with his temper.

'I don't want him to go to jail and have his future ruined.'

Booted Out, But Josie Lau's Team Will Stay On

2009-05-03T23:50:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 3 May 2009:

Booted out, but Josie Lau's team will stay on

They were booted out, but the executive committee headed by Josie Lau said last night that they would remain members of Aware.

In fact, they would even be willing to serve as volunteers if the newly elected executive committee would have them, they said.

Ms Lau, 48, and her team members Jenica Chua, 35, Lois Ng, 44, Sally Ang, 60, Irene Yee, 38, Maureen Ong, 55, and Charlotte Wong, 63, received an overwhelming vote of no-confidence from the 3,000 people at the extraordinary general meeting.

Outnumbered and out-talked

Overwhelmed in terms of numbers and words, exco opts for a graceful exit

They started the meeting brisk and business-like, but just minutes into the extraordinary general meeting (EGM), it was clear that Ms Josie Lau's team was no match for the old guard and its supporters, who outnumbered and outspoke them.

First, executive committee (exco) member Lois Ng, who was the master of ceremony, tried to assert herself by requesting Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong, who was seated among the women, to join the men on the other side of the auditorium.

Her request was met with loud protests by several old guard, who went up to the microphone to say that Mr Siew was their legal adviser and should be allowed to sit with them.

'Feminist mentor' responds to jibes

Senior lawyer Thio Su Mien stood up to respond to the jibes on why she had declared herself the 'feminist mentor' of the women who seized control of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) in March.

She had called herself that when she revealed on April 23 her key role in bringing about Aware's sudden leadership change.

Dr Thio, Ms Josie Lau and five others on the executive committee booted out yesterday all attend the Anglican Church of Our Saviour in Margaret Drive.

Yesterday, amid loud boos and objections, she held up a 2007 book that Aware had published on the women's movement here and pointed out that she was mentioned as the first woman dean of the Law Faculty - from 1969 to 1971 - at the then-University of Singapore.

New team spends $90,000 in five weeks

Wearing a black dress and a string of pearls, lawyer Karen Teoh, 30, queued up patiently, and when her turn came to speak, articulated a question that was already being muttered on many lips.

'How much money have you spent so far?' she asked the Josie Lau team.

Honorary treasurer Maureen Ong gave a long and detailed explanation of how Aware's skyrocketing membership numbers - which had gone from about 300 five weeks ago to nearly 3,000 last Friday - had prompted several venue changes.

AWARE EGM Coverage by ChannelNewsAsia

2009-05-03T23:22:00.000+08:00

RAZORTV's Coverage of AWARE's EGM

2009-05-03T17:35:00.008+08:00

Watch the coverage by RAZORTV (www.razortv.com.sg).

Josie Lau and team's press conference after stepping down as AWARE's exco.

AWARE EGM Part 1

AWARE EGM Part 2

AWARE EGM Part 3

AWARE Saga: The Morning After

2009-05-03T17:24:00.002+08:00

Dr Thio Speaks At AWARE EGM

2009-05-03T09:44:00.004+08:00

Founding and Veteran Members Reclaim AWARE

2009-05-02T23:59:00.003+08:00

In what could be the first for Singapore, the local media - both mainstream and social websites/blogs - reported on the AWARE EGM as it happened at Suntec City Hall 402 from about 2pm till 9:15pm on 2 May 2009. It was indeed a historical day for Singapore civil society.

Josie's new team steps down
By AsiaOne

The new executive committee of the Association of Women and Research (Aware) has stepped down after a vote of no confidence was passed successfully against them on Saturday.

Ex-Aware president Dana Lam was nominated the new leader, and Ms Chew i Jin the vice-president.

1414 votes were cast in favour of a no confidence while 761 votes were against in an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) that went over five hours.

The EGM was attended by some 2,000 members.

* * *

Marathon EGM meeting
By Teo Wan Gek & Elizabeth Soh (The Straits Times)

THE new executive committee of the Association of Women and Research (Aware) was grilled by members at a marathon extraordinary general meeting, which is still going on five hours after it started on Saturday afternoon.

A strong turnout of 2,000 members, many of them newly registered, showed up at the EGM at the Suntec City Convention Centre to debate and vote on the proposed constitutional amendments to give voting rights to associate members, and to table a vote of no confidence in the new team.

Questions came fast and furious from the floor as scrutineers tallied the votes.

* * *

New Aware exco spent $90k
By Teo Wan Gek (The Straits Times)

THE new executive committee of the Association of Women and Research (Aware), which took office on March 28, has spent about $90,000 so far, an exco member disclosed on Saturday at its extraordinary general meeting, which is still going on at the Suntec City Convention Centre on Saturday.

Fielding questions from members at the EGM to debate and vote on the proposed constitutional amendments to give voting rights to associate members and to table a vote of no confidence in the new team, Ms Maureen Ong, a committee member said the booking of the venue for Saturday's EGM alone cost more than $20,000.

She said the new exco, whose new president is Josie Lau, has spent about $90,000 since it came into office just barely a month ago.

* * *

Voting ends at Aware EGM
By Elizabeth Soh and Teo Wan Gek (The Straits Times)

SOME 2,000 members have voted at the closely-watched extraordinary general meeting of the Association of Women and Research (Aware) on Saturday, which started on a rowdy note.

Scrutineers are tallying the votes and the outcome is expected to be announced shortly.

The atmosphere in the meeting held in a function hall on the 4th floor of Suntec Suntec City Convention Centre was highly charged.

* * *

Rowdy start to Aware EGM
By Elizabeth Soh & Teo Wan Gek (The Straits Times)

THE closely-watched extraordinary general meeting of the Association of Women and Research (Aware) on Saturday started on a rowdy note, with boos from opposing camps and ugly outbursts.

The atmosphere in the meeting room on the 4th floor of Suntec Suntec City Convention Centre, packed with 2,000 members, was highly charged.

Boos and jeers greeted new Aware executive committee president Josie Lau when she stood up to make her opening remarks.

* * *

Aware showdown begins
By Elizabeth Soh and Teo Wan Gek (The Straits Times)

BEFORE the actual commencement of the extraordinary general meeting (EOGM) of the Association of Women and Research (Aware), the battle lines seem to have already been drawn.

There are at least 100 people at the Suntec City Exhibition Hall 402, of which about 20 per cent are men.

The two separate camps are clearly distinct, with the new guard volunteers wearing red shirts with the words 'Pro woman, pro family, pro Singapore' on the back of the shirts, while the old guard volunteers have on white shirts with the words 'We are Aware'.

* * *

Photos by Little People Press

Ho Ching Gets Top Award

2009-05-02T23:57:00.000+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 2 May 2009:

Outgoing Temasek chief Ho Ching gets top award
By Kor Kian Beng

OUTGOING Temasek chief Ho Ching received this year's top labour award for her support of the work of unions and for safeguarding workers' interests here.

Ms Ho, 56, was one of two senior management figures who received the Medal of Commendation (Gold) Award at the May Day Dinner last night.

The other was Mr James Lee Kim Wah, 70, director and senior adviser of property and retail group Wing Tai Holdings.

Ms Ho and Mr Lee, both nominated by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), received their awards from labour chief Lim Swee Say at the Orchid Country Club.

A range of awards were also presented to 58 other individuals and companies for their contributions to the labour movement, improving relations and looking out for the interests of workers.

Among them was veteran unionist Michael Chang Song Chew, who received the Comrade of Labour (Star) Award.

The presentations were made before an audience of 1,400. They included Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who accompanied his wife Ms Ho; guest of honour Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong; other Cabinet ministers; labour MPs; unionists and employers.

In its citation, the NTUC described Ms Ho as an 'exemplary leader who supports the work of unions, engages the union leaders, and cares for the workers'.

And it cited specific instances to illustrate her positive contributions.

In 2007, when Temasek decided to sell its power generation companies, she anticipated the anxieties of leaders and members of the Union of Power and Gas Employees and engaged them early. In doing so, she addressed the concerns they had about the future of their jobs.

The NTUC said Ms Ho also meets leaders of the Singapore Port Workers' Union and Port Officers' Union periodically to exchange views. She was instrumental in resolving the issue of special payments for workers when port operator PSA Corporation suspended its listing plans in 2002. Temasek is a PSA shareholder.

Another example: During the 2003 Sars crisis, she encouraged taxi operators to start a Hardship Fund for quarantined taxi drivers and to also set up temperature checkpoints for cabbies islandwide.

'The leaders at the various unions and taxi associations involved are deeply impressed and touched by Madam Ho's concern and personal involvement in safeguarding the well-being of their workers,' the NTUC said in its citation.

Speaking at her Temasek office before the ceremony, Ms Ho, who is chief executive officer and executive director, said of the award: 'It's a recognition of the trust between Temasek as a team and some of the unions that we have worked with.'

She described the labour relations here as a unique strength for Singapore as management and unions understood each other's needs and shared common long-term interests for the country.

'We're not fighting for a bigger share of one small pie. But really it's about growing that pie and making sure the pie is sustainable. And that, in turn, is in the long term interest of everyone,' she said.

But these strong ties did not come easy. It required an effort on both sides 'to give and take, to understand the other perspective, and most important, not to break the trust between each other'.

'So when there are difficult issues, we don't dodge the issues. We bring them to the table and discuss them.'

Ms Ho, who hands over the reins on Oct 1 to Mr Charles Goodyear, said the mutual confidence among unions, management and government is an important element of labour relations here.

At last night's ceremony, Mr Gan said the swine influenza outbreak will add uncertainty to the economic outlook, and added that the labour market 'will remain weak for quite some time'.

But Singaporeans could remain confident of overcoming the challenges as the fundamentals here, including the tripartite relationship, were strong.

Singapore responded swiftly and decisively, he said citing the $20.5-billion Resilience Package, among others.

Also, there are at least 45,000 jobs expected over the next two years, while 20,000 jobs are currently available in various industries and at different levels.

Over 77,000 workers and 1,100 companies have also committed to the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience, or Spur, since its launch last December.

He also expressed confidence that by working together, Singaporeans can and will overcome the crisis as they had done in the past.

Churches Should Stay Out of Aware Tussle

2009-05-01T23:46:00.001+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 1 May 2009:

Churches should stay out of Aware tussle
By Zakir Hussain & Wong Kim Hoh

THE National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) has said it does not condone churches getting involved in recent matters related to the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware).

It also does not condone pulpits being used for the purpose, it said in a statement last night.

'We do not condone churches getting involved in this matter; neither do we condone pulpits being used for this purpose. Our member churches are not involved in the present saga.

Ex-Reform Party Chairman Says His Piece

2009-05-01T17:40:00.003+08:00

Today ran this story on 1 May 2009:

Ex-chairman says his piece
Leong Wee Keat

AS FAR as he was concerned, the Reform Party, Singapore’s youngest political party, did not hold any meetings nor did it call for a vote of no-confidence against his leadership on Sunday night.

Speaking at the Speakers’ Corner yesterday, former Reform Party chairman Ng Teck Siong maintained that he resigned from his post because he felt the fledgling party had strayed from the ideals of its founder, the late J B Jeyaretnam. These include providing challenges, fighting for the interests of the people and country, developing human rights, and preserving justice and equality.

Three other central executive committee members have also resigned from the party.

Today understands that Mr Ng stormed out of the party’s meeting before the no-confidence motion.

“My personal view, and that of other central executive committeemembers, is that if we want to continue with JB’s ideals, we have to move out because people at the wings and the back are not strong in their purpose,” he said.

Mr Jeyaretnam was the party’s secretary-general before he died of heart failure last September. The post was left vacant until his son, Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, was appointed secretary-general earlier this week — a month after he joined the party.

Mr Ng, a long-time ally of the senior Jeyaretnam and one who has been espousing the Opposition’s cause for almost three decades, related that the party was heading to “the second stage” of conducting house visits and producing party publications when there was a “mis-step”.

Asked to elaborate, he declined, saying it was a “painful event which happened in the party”.

When asked about his thoughts on the younger Jeyaretnam taking over, Mr Ng said: “I realised they are two different people — JB was from a different plane, whereas Kenneth has no political record, experience.”

Using a football analogy, he added: “It will be a huge task for him to move the party because the flanks and the back will not be of great help.”

Were there a lot of disagreements between Mr Ng and the younger Jeyaretnam? “Time will tell,” was Mr Ng’s reply. “We in the Opposition must show unity. We are not going to talk about the differences.”

Mr Jeyaretnam did not respond to queries by press time.

MOE Investigates Complaints Over AWARE Sex Programme

2009-05-01T17:35:00.001+08:00

Today ran this story on 1 May 2009:

MOE Investigates complaints over AWARE sex programme

The Ministry of Education (MOE) said yesterday that some parents have expressed concern over the content found in an “AWARE Comprehensive Sexual Education: Basic Instructor Guide” that has been posted online. The MOE said it was investigating this matter. Apart from MOE’s own sexuality education programme, the ministry said that “schools can also collaborate with other agencies”. In doing so, schools must ensure that any programmes run by external agencies are guided by the same principles set out in MOE’s framework for sexuality education, said the ministry.

Why do schools engage external agencies?

As the needs of students vary across schools, schools are given the autonomy to decide on topics that would best meet their students’ needs to augment sexuality education in schools; and also on which external agency to engage. For this purpose, guidelines on the engagement of external organisations to conduct sexuality education have been given to schools.

What are the guidelines for schools to engage external vendors?

Sexuality programmes conducted by external agencies should adhere to the guiding principles as set out in the framework for sexuality education. They have to be premised on the importance of the family and respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities on sexuality issues. Parents may also opt their children out of any sexuality education programme.

What should schools look out for when engaging external vendors?

Specifically, in the selection of external vendors, schools are advised to screen external agencies to ensure that they are of good repute. In addition, the schools should consider (a) background of the vendor, (b) details of the programme, (c) key messages conveyed, (d) mode of delivery that would best engage students, (e) feedback and evaluation process for future improvements.

What are the common topics covered by the external agencies?

In secondary schools, the common topics include boy-girl relationship, STI/HIV prevention, consequences of pre-marital sex, Internet safety and pornography. Post-secondary schools cover topics on STI/HIV prevention, consequences of pre-marital sex, dating, love and relationships.

Does MOE audit programmes byexternal agencies?

Currently, schools audit the programmes and provide MOE with the feedback. As specified in the guidelines in engaging external agencies, teachers should be present with the students to ensure that the key messages conveyed are consistent with those agreed upon by the school and the external agency.

It is good practice for teachers to follow-up with their students after the workshop to clarify any outstanding issues or concerns that were either not addressed during the workshop or were surfaced during the workshop itself. Schools are also advised that they can check with Guidance Branch if they need further information and advice on the programmes conducted by specific vendors.

AWARE Workshops Funded by Donation

2009-05-01T17:33:00.002+08:00

Today ran this story on 1 May 2009:

Workshops Were Funded by Donation
By Esther Ng

THE sex education workshops conducted by Aware at 11 secondary schools last year was fully subsidised, thanks to a donation from the Chen Su Lan Trust.

Each workshop cost between $500 and $600 but was free for the schools, which have not yet been named publicly.

Yesterday, former Aware president Constance Singam revealed to Today that $35,000 out of the $113,000 donated by the Chen Su Lan Trust last year was spent on the free Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) workshops at schools.

Asked if he was aware of the content of the CSE programme, Reverend Yap Kim Hao, the chairman of the Chen Su Lan Trust, said that he had been given a “rough outline” of the programme, but he had not seen the teaching materials. When Today showed him two pages of the CSE trainers’ manual, which stated that “anal sex can be healthy” and that “homosexuality is perfectly normal”, Rev Yap said that he “had no problems” with the content.

“I recognise there are dissenting views, but these have to be presented and it’s up to the student to make a decision so (the trainer) is not promoting one particular view,” said Rev Yap.

The 80-year-old is a retired Bishop of the Methodist Church here and currently pastoral adviser to the Free Community Church. According to the church’s website, it accepts same-sex relationships and welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons.

Sexuality Programme: Guided or Misguided?

2009-05-01T17:29:00.002+08:00

Today ran this story on 1 May 2009:

Guided or misguided?
Alicia Wong and Lin Yanqin

THE debate over the sexuality education programme by the Association of Women for Action and Research boils down to a 15-minute segment of its three-hour workshop, Today has learnt after obtaining on Wednesday pages of the group’s Comprehensive Sexual Education: Basic Instructor Guide.

The section in question defines terms such as “anal sex”, “virginity”, “teenage pregnancy”and “homosexual”. As part of the workshop exercise, students are asked to associate these terms according to three categories: Positive, neutral and negative.

Today had approached Aware’s old guard to verify the material, after receiving it from a source outside the group, and compared it with hard copies of the actual guide, which has separately been put on the Internet.

The rest of the guide deals with topics such as body image, HIV/Aids, contraception and relationships. But it is the description of terms such as homosexuality and anal sex (see graphic), that appears to be at the heart of the contention raised by self-declared “feminist mentor” and senior lawyer Thio Su Mien.

She took issue with homosexuality being seen as a neutral, not negative, word.

What the Old Guard say

Founding Aware member and its first president, Lena Cheng, met with Today and said that the group had consulted religious groups, academics, social workers and teachers when they adapted the guide from the 25-year-old International Women’s Health Coalition, which promotes and protects girls’ and women’s sexual and reproductive rights and health. “We’re not some feminists who just thought this up,” she said.

Aware’s former programme manager Deeksha Vasundhra said the definitions are for instructors to facilitate discussions.

The “private and confidential” guide is never given to students, she said.

Students can also place the terms in question in more than one category and they are not pushed to accept certain views.

“I tell trainers, it’s not up to you to teach values. Decisions are made based on family, culture and religion,” she said, and added that children are always advised to speak to their parents or teachers.

Since the material caters to a wide age group, the onus remains on instructors to focus on the relevant topics, said Ms Vasundhra.

Aware’s 10 trainers are selected for their maturity, open-mindedness and ability to manage young people. They go through a stringent selection process, training sessions and examinations.

One trainer told Today, discussions are “very student driven”.

“We basically ask students, ‘what’s your views?’ We don’t say anything, and let them hear all the different ideas ... I only make sure everybody respects each other. We don’t believe in imposing any viewpoints,” she said.

During class, trainers use the word “partner” instead of “husband”, for instance, so that lesbian students do not “tune out,” said Ms Vasundhra. Ditto for homosexuality, which is not defined as abnormal so students do not feel excluded.

Ultimately, the aim, said Ms Vasundhra, is to “help kids see that everybody is different and help them to accept that”.

What parents say

Today contacted five schools about the programme. Four neither confirmed nor denied if they had the programme, and one said yes but did not reply to queries.

Today also showed 13 parents with teenage students the copy of the training material.

While the majority saw the importance of educating their children on sexuality and making the right choices, many also questioned the handling of controversial topics and the explicitness of the material.

“It’s okay to let them know (about sex) but not to this extent. I don’t want my son to learn such explicit things,” said Ms Nor, a mother of three.

Father of six, Rizan Jantan, 45, felt children could approach parents and “we can explain to them (right from wrong).”

A mother of two boys said it was “all natural”, while businessman Chung Toh Keong, 56, felt such issues should be taught, since we “don’t dare talk about such taboo topics”.

A Christian Solution to the AWARE Conundrum

2009-05-01T17:01:00.001+08:00

Facebook member Gwee Li Sui has posted a follow-up to his note:

A CHRISTIAN SOLUTION TO THE AWARE CONUNDRUM

This is a follow-up to my earlier note. After posting it, I received -- and am still receiving -- words of thanks and encouragement from many Christians and people with different beliefs and opinions. The Christians specifically said that it was what they needed to hear or would have liked to get across themselves.

But I have also received less appreciative messages. Some of these charged me with having sown discord and embarrassed Christianity in front of non-believers. The irony did not escape me, but then I began to wonder whether I did make one too many assumptions. These comments were probably knee-jerk reactions, meaning that some Christians may actually not have thought it possible that other Christians, a whole lot of us, could be this appalled with the episode.

For this reason, as a brother-in-Christ, I feel that I need to believe that the new ex-co's sadness over its negative reception and its willingness to heal the social rifts it caused are genuine. There has already been too much distrust, and somewhere trust has to re-begin. My appeal for non-support is not about humiliating or condemning any group of individuals on either side. Those who have hoped that I came out in strong condemnation of one, emailing me links to sex education and "the gay agenda", or in clear support of the other, initially mistitling my view as "supporting the Old Guard", know that I won't.

This is not being wishy-washy; it is staying focussed. The simple disagreement is with a course of action pursued by a group of Christians that has caused suspicion between communities and fear within each. If everyone is to set aside his or her own fixation -- gay, anti-gay, faith in practice, fundamentalism, etc. -- and trace back to the source of our current unhappiness, he or she will see that it all started with a single fateful decision. One ought not then to doubt that these Christians intend good from their point of view, but one has every reason to doubt that things could be restored and relationships healed by going down the same road.

As the party involved is Christian, the most amicable solution may well also be the most obvious. In fact, how could we not have seen it? We Christians believe in a God who gives every person second chances in life. Every chance after the first two is still the second: that's how gracious we believe He is! When one makes a mistake or realises that one has followed a bad choice, there is no shame in admitting wrong, so long as one is sincere about changing. The choice to turn back is never a Christian defeat; it is our triumph!

Indeed, paradoxically in this situation, one can also only move on, move forward, by going backwards to the point where the wrong choice was made and choose rightly this time. This is a versatile truth I learnt from C. S. Lewis a long time ago. If the new ex-co will, without contest, give up its seats for a more inclusive shape of leadership in AWARE, it will have regained, I dare say, the faith of many Singaporeans and the admiration and support of every Christian in full measure. These individuals can then go on to pursue in earnest their concern over homosexual teaching in schools and related issues with the right authorities. I want to believe that everyone in that later business will be cooperative and respect the eventual findings, whatever the outcome is.

If the AWARE Christians in current leadership and those gearing up to vote tomorrow will choose this infinitely less harmful route, they will have made us all who are Christians proud of them. Do consider the option seriously: it is as practical and as Christian as it can get. Realise that fellow believers like me who are outraged want peace too and have been praying for it. But, when it comes to making peace a reality, only specific individuals are able to effect it. The ball is in their court alone. We can all avoid a confrontation. We can stun the nation with one simple move that affirms love, faith, and hope, all at once.

Yours Truly,

Gwee Li Sui

Church Responds on Aware Connection

2009-05-01T15:24:00.003+08:00

AsiaOne ran this story on 30 April 2009:

Church responds on Aware connection

The Church of Our Saviour issued a statement to the media clarifying that they are not involved in the Aware takeover. They have requested that that statement be used in its entirety or not at all.

Their full statement is reflected below:

As the media reported on the AWARE saga, it brought up the fact that several of the new exco are members of Church of Our Saviour. This has created the perception that the church was behind the move.

This is not true. Church of Our Saviour did not initiate or instigate any campaign to take over the leadership of AWARE. The church withheld comment but the allegations have continued. This statement is to clear the air so far as our alleged involvement is concerned.

We have not, nor will we, allow our pulpit to be used to intentionally teach anything that would arouse social tensions, divisions and unrest.

Church of Our Saviour does not have an agenda against homosexuals. We are not antihomosexual. The Christian Bible says we have all committed sin in different ways - heterosexual and homosexual - against Almighty God. But God loves us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to take the judgment in our place. (Reference John 3:16, Romans 5:8). We believe homosexuals should be extended understanding, kindness and love like every other human being. No homosexual should ever be deprived of any right enjoyed by every other Singaporean.

However, Church of Our Saviour does have a stand against the agenda of activists promoting homosexuality as a normal alternative lifestyle. Just as much as the Bible commands us to love the homosexual person, it also states categorically that homosexual practice is wrong. (Reference Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:8-10)

Accepting homosexual practices and endorsing any education program that teaches our children that such practices are neutral or normal, would lead to the erosion of the sound family values on which Singapore society has been built.

We hope that AWARE members will go to their EGM without the wrong assumption that the exco is a pawn of the church or that it has intentions to turn it into a religious organization as that is totally untrue.

Senior Pastor Derek Hong

Christians Against AWARE Takeover

2009-04-30T10:51:00.003+08:00

Christians who are against the AWARE takeover have formed a Facebook group called Concerned Christians Against Fundamentalism. There are many non-Christian members in the group who have joined to show support and offer words of encouragement. Also in Facebook, one member, Gwee Li Siu, wrote a note about the saga on 20 April 2009:

CHRISTIANS AGAINST AWARE TAKEOVER!

Christians in Singapore, listen! You should not be this conflicted
about the AWARE debacle. It appears that a few churches have already
taken the opportunity to preach on the issue of homosexuality from the
pulpit. Some Christians have also been rattling on about it being time
to make a stand and be counted for what one truly believes.

So this is me making a stand right here. I have been a Bible-believing
Christian for 25 years now. I want first to acknowledge fellow
believers who, like me, are shocked, angered, and saddened by the
takeover and feel that their faith has been hijacked and their views
ignored. I know that a lot of such affected Christians are out there.
There is also another group which may not agree with the new team's
tactics but admires its fervour or sympathises with it for the heat it
has been getting.

But, most of all, I want to address a crucial third party: Christian
women who have been encouraged to stand up and be counted for their
beliefs. I wish to appeal to their good sense in these last hours. You
may be one of these and have even joined, or are planning to join,
AWARE to help swing the votes in favour of the new ex-co on Saturday.
Especially if I am describing you, please read on!

Yes, there are times when a Christian needs to make a courageous stand
– but, in every event, always ask yourself: For what cause is this?
What context does it serve? The current scenario is not one where we
are being asked what our beliefs on certain issues are or whether
Christianity and homosexuality are compatible or we are being mocked
or discriminated against. It is a simple context where a group of
well-meaning Christians infiltrated a secular organisation in order to
be in a position to dictate their own values in its daily running. In
this light, what a Christian may feel about issues like homosexuality
is besides the point!

As a secular body, AWARE rightly cannot have a vision that treats
women from different backgrounds through the outlook of just one
religious system. Indeed, I dare say that an appropriate Christian
response is to resist the actions of these Christians. Just as God
gave every person free choice and the opportunity to believe, we ought
to support the sanctity of this right for others to make up their own
minds and live their own lives. Just as we do not force the Christian
faith down someone's throat against his or her will, we should not
take over a non-religious organisation for the single purpose of
making others unlike us behave as we believe. To do this would be a
gross misapplication of the message of Jesus.

If you support the new ex-co's actions, be aware that you are sending
a string of possibly irreversible wrong signals to every Singaporean.
Consider carefully whether you are willing to shoulder the
responsibility of damages that would affect the longstanding good work
of Christians in Singapore. Since the government has chosen not to be
involved in the matter so far, whatever happens will be seen clearly
by all as the response of particular sectors of society.

Here is my short list of obvious implications:

[1] Support the new ex-co, and you are effectively saying that you
condone its quasi-corporate act of infiltration, with related
strategies of secrecy, disinformation, moral coercion, and
fear-mongering. You are saying that you support its
less-than-Christian covert moves more than traditionally Christian
ones like dialogue, open engagement, honesty, and clarity.

[2] Support the new ex-co, and we will go down a slippery road with
wide-ranging repercussions for all. Don’t believe for a moment that
the manoeuvring will stop here. What this invites others to see is
that infiltration is the most effective way for small groups of
like-minded individuals to seize power quickly -- and where will this
end? What is to stop any religious or ideological group from doing the
same to any social institution at every level? In the long run, who do
you think loses?

[3] Support the new ex-co, and you potentially make light of the
freedom that is God’s gift to every human being. Against your best
intentions, you may send out instead the message that we Christians
think that we know better than everyone else and that we are willing
to outflank, overpower, and overwhelm if we do not get our way.

[4] Support the new ex-co, and, if they stay and behave as predicted,
you will be directly responsible for undoing the trust that many
Christians have taken years to build with their non-Christian friends.
This is a trust built on mutual respect. You will have made the Gospel
of Christ more difficult to hear for years to come because people will
think that they know what it is about. You will have created a new
generation of Christ-haters.

This matter, in short, is not to be treated lightly. Jesus tells us
all to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves". There are times
to be passionate and helpful in a gungho way, but this is not the
time. Christians can be wrong about many things too. So please, by all
means, pray for the AWARE debacle to be resolved amicably and for
Christians in AWARE, but do not, in the name of our common faith, go
in blind support of other Christians because you are Christian!

Yours Truly,

Gwee Li Sui

200 Foreign Workers Show Up at MOM

2009-04-30T02:23:00.001+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 28 April 2009:

200 foreign workers show up at MOM
By Melissa Sim

When construction worker Feng Jinfu, 48, picked up his 'renewed' work permit on April 13, the China national had no idea that it was also the day the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) cancelled it.

Word has since got around among several construction industry workers like him. Thus for the third reported time in four months, MOM yesterday found its Havelock Road premises filled with a group of foreign workers wanting answers.

The 200 there yesterday also wanted their salaries and refunds on the deposits they claim to have paid their employers.

According to MOM, the reason the work permits were cancelled was because the employers had either failed to pay the foreign workers' levy, submit documents or physically produce the foreign workers.

MOM officers addressed the crowd yesterday, explaining that investigations were under way.

They also urged the workers to look for other jobs and report back next Tuesday. When about 130 of them refused to leave, the police were called in.

In a statement yesterday, MOM said the workers were 'uncooperative and behaved in a rowdy manner'. It added that it would refer the workers to the police if they were there again 'without prior appointments and without valid reasons'.

The workers, from Hokh Contract Services, Raffles Contractors and Neo-Built, were among the 800 who gathered at Kallang Pudding Road last week. About 40 from that group were taken to MOM to help with investigations. They said they were trying to get back the fees - at least $5,700 each - which they had paid on arrival here.

One Cause for All Women

2009-04-29T23:35:00.002+08:00

AWARE has changed the venue of its extraordinary general meeting again.

The meeting will now be held at Exhibition Hall 402, International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Suntec City, from 2pm-5pm on 2 May.

Admission and registration starts from 12pm.

Members are reminded to bring along their NRICs or passports for admission and registration purposes.

The old guard supporters made this video (please note that the venue info at the end of the video is no longer correct).

Reform Party Denies Talk of a Fall-Out

2009-04-29T12:35:00.001+08:00

Today ran this story on 29 April 2009:

Reform Party denies talk of a fall-out
By Leong Wee Keat

THE Reform Party has denied talk of a falling-out between its secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam and Mr Ng Teck Siong, who quit as chairman after receiving a no-confidence vote on Sunday.

Interim party chairman Edmund Ng stressed yesterday that the party is governed by the Central Executive Committee (CEC) decisions, and not by any one individual.

He also cited an interview thatMr Jeyaretnam — whose late father,Mr JB Jeyaretnam, founded the party with long-time ally Mr Ng Teck Siong — gave to 938Live on Monday.

The secretary-general had said: “Teck Siong has given many years of loyal service to my father and has done a good job of steering the party”, and his departure “shouldn’t be taken as a reflection of anything bad on him. Just that the majority of the CEC felt it’s time for new blood”.

Mr Jeyaretnam said “the door is always open” to Mr Ng Teck Siong, who has also quit the party.

In a press statement yesterday, the Reform Party said their ex-chairman was involved with different opposition parties for almost 30 years. In recent years, he was seen as assistant to the late Mr Jeyaretnam and, following the latter’s death last October, took over the party’s helm.

When contacted by Today, Mr Ng would only say he “is taking time to reflect” on the recent developments and might hold a press conference on a later date. Today understands the Reform Party will also call a press conference soon to announce its plans.

What Being Inclusive Means

2009-04-29T04:01:00.001+08:00

This letter, by Josie Lau, President of Aware, was published in The Straits Times' Forum page on 28 April 2009:

What being inclusive means

I REFER to yesterday's article, 'Keep religion above 'petty politics', says Vivian'.

The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) fully supports Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan's advice that our internal disputes should be settled among members. We agree it is important to hear a diversity of views and to discuss these views in a civil manner.

Aware is a secular organisation and we welcome women of all races and religions to be members. Our members' beliefs and the recent high-profile disputes should not be exploited in the public arena to serve controversial agendas.

The extraordinary general meeting on May 2 is a forum for genuinely interested parties to address issues relating to Aware, its contribution to matters relating to all women and how this affects society in general.

Aware's principle of inclusiveness is framed by reference to the purposes and objectives of this women's organisation. For example, Aware is not directly concerned with the rights of consumers, investors or the environment.

What about the interests of lesbians or what some call 'sexual orientation' or 'sexuality' rights? It depends on what interest is at stake. For example, we do not think lesbians should be discriminated against in the workplace, either in terms of promotion or pay; like every woman, they deserve equality of opportunity. The only relevant consideration is merit.

There is a world of difference between fair employment rights and claims to 'same-sex marriage'.

As an advocacy group, Aware seeks to maintain its relevance by allocating its limited resources to tackling the most pressing issues of the day impacting our women across the spectrum of society.

It is not helpful to use slogans like 'inclusive' to force acceptance of controversial claims on all Aware members, as if that belief were a prerequisite for membership; it is not.

Aware would like to contribute to pluralistic Singapore by providing a forum to address issues specifically so we can understand exactly what issues are at stake in order for dialogue to be meaningful. Aware is tolerant and inclusive enough to allow its members to hold their views on matters of controversy.

Restore Reason, Civility to Debate

2009-04-29T03:56:00.005+08:00

This letter, written by former AWARE President Constance Singam, was published in The Straits Times Forum page on 28 April 2009:

Restore reason, civility to debate

IN A climate of debate that has seen fear mongering, character assassination, heads of sub-committees sacked, employees fired, police called, votes of no confidence, churches weighing in and threats of violence, it is necessary to remind ourselves what being part of a civil society means.

A civil society is one where every citizen has an option to make her own life in a safe public sphere and where no one should be discriminated against or excluded because of her religion, class, race, sexuality, lifestyle, ideology or gender.

Given the political dominance of one party and Singapore's multicultural and multi-religious nature, groups like the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) are important for providing the expression of alternative views and hence for good governance.

The totality of Aware's work and the make-up of every executive committee (exco) since its formation are representative of a 'rainbow coalition'. However, and somewhat unfortunately, the current exco does not represent Singapore's racial and religious diversity. In that sense, one wonders to what degree it best represents civil society.

The second question is what are the tones and sensibilities of civil society? This is a far harder question to answer. But we have had clear, if unspoken, codes of conduct at Aware for many years. These codes have been replaced by mistrust, betrayal, misinformation and silence.

In this regard, character assassination of individuals shows the extent to which people will descend to sell their point of view. Misinformation about me is being circulated by text messages and the Internet that I have a homosexual brother and am working to turn Aware into a gay/lesbian organisation.

My maiden name is D'Cruz and my full married name is Thurairasingam and so Clarence Singam cannot be my brother (see http://sg.christianpost.com/dbase/society/1548/122336/3.htm ) .

I have emphasised that Aware will not be used as a platform for lesbian issues. I have stated categorically that Aware speaks for all women and we address issues of discrimination against all women. These are facts that can easily be verified. But facts are a casualty in this whole sad episode.

We must restore a sense of reason, civility and respect to a debate that is increasingly unproductive. This will surely be good, not just for Aware but for all women, families and Singaporeans.

In that sense, I am grateful for the statement by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, in yesterday's report, 'Keep religion above 'petty politics', says Vivian'.

* * *
FORUM NOTE: The writer was president of Aware before the society's AGM last month. She quit as its adviser following the fallout between veterans of the society and the new executive committee, comprising largely new members led by Ms Josie Lau.

Kenneth Jeyaretnam Heads Reform Party

2009-04-28T23:21:00.001+08:00

Today ran this story on 28 April 2009:

JBJ’s son heads Reform Party

MR KENNETH Jeyaretnam, 50, the elder son of the late Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam, has been appointed the secretary-general of the Reform Party that his father set up last June.

Mr Jeyaretnam, who joined the party last month, said after the meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee on Sunday: “After choosing to go into politics, various offers were put to me but the stated philosophy of the Reform Party most closely matched my own philosophy.”

He added: “We have a lot of work going forward and it is humbling that so many people have demonstrated this level of confidence in me. I lookforward to serving them.”

Reform Party chairman Ng Teck Siong, 68, quit his post after a motion of no confidence in his leadership was passed by a majority vote at the Sunday night meeting. He has also tendered his resignation from the party.

Mr Ng, a long-time confidant of the late Mr Jeyaretnam who helped him establish the Reform Party, said that “in the interest of party renewal, this is an appropriate juncture” for him to step aside for fresh blood to take over the helm.

Mr Edmund Ng has been appointed as interim chairman and Mr Teo Kian Chye as interim Treasurer.

Unhappy Workers Who Turn Rowdy Cautioned

2009-04-28T23:11:00.002+08:00

Today ran this story on 28 April 2009:

A stern warning for mob
By Lin Yanqin and Teo Xuanwei

CROWDS of unpaid, unhappy foreign workers seeking help have become a common sight at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Building in recent months.

But a mob of workers from China who turned rowdy yesterday elicited a stern warning from MOM: Break the law again, and not only will it delay your case, we’ll refer you to the police.

Some 200 workers from Raffles Contractors, Hokh Contract Services and Neo-Built Pte Ltd — the same group interviewed by MOM officers on Friday — had assembled at the Havelock Road premises in the morning seeking updates.

When asked to proceed to MOM’s Kim Seng Road office so their concerns could be investigated, about 40 did so, but 130 refused to leave.

“They were uncooperative and behaved in a rowdy manner, impeding the access of the public to MOM Building, and making a nuisance of themselves. These workers insisted on immediate resolution of their demands,” said MOM in a statement.

Despite numerous attempts at persuasion, the workers refused to leave, prompting MOM to call the police four hours later around 1.30pm.

When Today was there, officers in blue moved through the crowd, talking with workers who argued with them. Eventually, the workers were herded across the road where some still stood, refusing to budge.

“We have no money for food, and we can’t even pay for our rent anymore,” said Mr Xu, 40, from Zhejiang, who had worked for Hokh Contract Services for nine months before his contract was terminated. “They still owe me $3,000 in wages. I paid about 50,000 yuan ($11,000) to come here and work. What am I going to do?”

MOM repeated its assurance it was striving to “help workers sooner rather than later” on wage disputes, but such behaviour on their part was unproductive, only serving “to delay the resolution of their claims”.

“If these workers gather at MOM again without prior appointments and without valid reasons, MOM will immediately refer them to the police,” warned the ministry.

MOM added that it sought a “fair resolution” to all claims and thus, would need to establish the facts of the case before exploring a settlement between employers and workers.

Healthcare Providers Step Up Infection Control Measures

2009-04-28T23:08:00.001+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this story on 28 April 2009:

Healthcare providers step up infection control measures
By Cheryl Lim

SINGAPORE: Healthcare providers in Singapore are stepping up control measures for infectious disease. This is part of a preparedness plan, should the global swine flu situation take a turn for the worse.

Infection control measures are already in place at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Patients and visitors to the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department and outpatient clinics are being screened for flu-like symptoms, as well as their travel histories to the United States, Mexico and Canada.

SGH has also strengthened infection control measures and will only allow two visitors to accompany patients to the A&E department.

It is also providing visitor registration to facilitate contact tracing, should this be needed.

Sources said hospitals are also discussing contingency plans, such as cancelling non-emergency surgeries, if more safeguards become necessary.

Public clinics or polyclinics have also taken similar steps. Masks are on hand in the waiting area for patients who are coughing or sneezing.

Parkway Health, the largest private healthcare provider here, has upped the gears on infection control as well. Patients entering the A&E department have to be checked for their temperature and their travel history.

Tan Poh Lan, CEO of Gleneagles Hospital, Parkway Health, said: "There will be things implemented like controlling the number of visitors to the hospital... (and) monitoring our staff movements within the system itself. We will then make sure that staff stay within one facility."

Swine Flu Spreads, Containment Seen as 'Unfeasible'

2009-04-28T23:06:00.002+08:00

AFP ran this story on 28 April 2009:

Swine flu spreads, containment seen as 'unfeasible'

MEXICO CITY - World health officials admitted they were powerless to halt the spread of swine flu and ratcheted up their pandemic alert level as the number of affected countries rose sharply on Tuesday.

As Mexico, epicentre of the outbreak, said 152 people were now believed to have died from the virus, the number of known cases in the US more than doubled while six other countries said they had confirmed their first casualties.

Authorities in Asia -- where memories of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 remain fresh -- tried to contain the spread of the virus, screening air passengers from affected areas and advising against non-essential travel to Mexico.

But the World Health Organization (WHO) said border screenings "don't work," while the EU's health commissioner said there was no need for travel restrictions.

"Border controls do not work. Screening doesn't work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva.

"If a person has been exposed or infected... the person might not be symptomatic at the airport," he said. "We learn as we go on. SARS was a huge learning experience for all of us."

The WHO raised its flu pandemic alert level from three to four on Monday night -- signalling a "significant increase in the risk of a pandemic."

Keiji Fukuda, acting WHO assistant director-general for health, security and the environment, said late Monday that given the widespread nature of the virus, all corners of the world are at potential risk.

"I think that in this age of global travel, where people move around in airplanes so quickly, there is no region to which this virus could not spread," Fukuda said.

The outbreak was too "widespread to make containment a feasible" strategy, he added.

Nevertheless, he stressed that the UN health agency did not recommend closing borders or restricting travel.

"With the virus being widespread... closing borders or restricting travel really has very little effects in stopping the movement of this virus," he said.

Fukuda's line was echoed by the European Union health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou who said that while precautionary measures were advisable, "at this juncture I don't see any point on restricting travelling."

But reflecting the split in how to deal with the outbreak, France joined Britain in advising against all but essential travel to Mexico.

The sense of gloom was compounded by predictions from leading experts that a pandemic was now all but inevitable.

"It is very likely we are at the beginning of a pandemic. We are near there," said Yuen Kwok-yung, head of microbiology at the University of Hong Kong.

And Dmitry Lvov, head of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Virology, said: "The risk of a pandemic in the world is very high."

The Mexican government meanwhile said the probable national death toll from the virus had risen to 152, while the number of cases under observation reached 1,614.

Faster and more effective laboratory tests for the flu were to begin Tuesday, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said.

"We're in the decisive moment of the crisis. The number (of deaths) will continue rising," Cordova said.

Mexico City, home to around 20 million people, remained eerily quiet with the capital's zoos, museums, churches, courts and many restaurants closed.

British tour operators, including Thomas Cook, halted holidays to Mexico after two people who returned to Scotland from a honeymoon in the resort town of Cancun fell ill with the swine flu virus.

Apart from Britain, the only confirmed case of the virus in Europe was in Spain while suspected cases were being probed in Germany and Austria.

A total of 44 people are thought to have been infected in the United States while Canada has six cases.

And in a further illustration of its global reach, Israel and New Zealand both confirmed their first swine flu casualties.

In Asia, Thai medical authorities placed a woman in quarantine in hospital while South Korea investigated a "probable" victim. Australia meanwhile probed 70 possible cases.

WHO officials in China said they were investigating several people with suspicious symptoms, but played down the chances that any were likely infected.

"Swine flu is an international problem now, it's crossed two continents, it's got to be dealt with by international agreements," said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown as his government called a meeting of its COBRA crisis cell.

NTUC FairPrice Donates $3.18m to Fund

2009-04-28T22:54:00.000+08:00

Today ran this story on 28 April 2009:

NTUC FairPrice donates $3.18m to fund

The NTUC FairPrice Foundation is donating another $3.18 million to the Labour Movement’s U Care fund.

The fund, launched in March, aims to help low-wage workers, including those retrenched, ride out the recession. In total, the foundation has given $5.25 million to the fund.

NTUC said its social enterprises had set a target of $10 million for the U Care fund this year and with the foundation’s contribution, this goal has been achieved.

MOE Issues Press Release Regarding AWARE's Sexuality Programme in Schools

2009-04-28T22:48:00.003+08:00

The Ministry of Education (MOE) released a press release on 28 April 2009:

Reply to Recent Comments and Claims About AWARE’s Sexuality Education Programme in Schools

1. We refer to recent claims and comments about AWARE’s sexuality education programme in schools.

2. Sexuality education conducted in MOE schools is premised on the importance of the family and respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities on sexuality issues. The aim is to help students make responsible values-based choices on matters involving sexuality.

3. Core programmes are delivered by teachers but schools do collaborate with other agencies in delivering additional modules. However, in doing so, schools must ensure that any programmes run by external agencies are secular and sensitive to the multi-religious make-up of our society. Parents can choose to opt their children out of these programmes.

4. Last year, 11 secondary schools engaged AWARE to run workshops for their students. The number of students involved in each school ranged from about 20 to 100, and each workshop lasted 3 hours. The objectives of these workshops were to provide students with accurate information on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)/HIV, to help students understand the consequences of premarital sexual activity, and to equip students with skills such as decision-making and resisting negative peer pressure.

5. AWARE also conducted assembly talks, typically of 45-minute duration, for students in a few secondary schools. Some of the areas covered in the talks included body image, self-esteem, eating disorders, teenage pregnancies, sexual harassment and the role of women in today’s context.

6. The schools that engaged AWARE found that the content and messages of the sessions conducted were appropriate for their students and adhered to guidelines to respect the values of different religious groups. The schools did not receive any negative feedback from students who attended the workshops and talks or their parents.

7. In particular, MOE has also not received any complaint from parents or Dr Thio Su Mien, who was reported to have made specific claims about sexuality education in our schools. MOE has contacted Dr Thio Su Mien to seek clarifications and facts to substantiate her claims.

8. If parents and members of the public know of specific instances where guidelines have not been adhered to, they should report them directly to MOE to investigate. MOE recognises that sexuality education is sensitive. In conducting these programmes, the views of parents will be respected and values taught should not deviate from the social norms accepted by mainstream society in Singapore.

MOE Seeks Clarification on Claims on AWARE's Programmes

2009-04-28T22:45:00.002+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this story on 28 April 2009:

MOE seeks clarification on claims on AWARE's programmes
By Zhang Tingjun

SINGAPORE: The Education Ministry (MOE) has contacted Dr Thio Su Mien, who is the "feminist mentor" to the new exco in the Association of Women for Action & Research (AWARE), to clarify the claims she was reported to have made on the organisation's sexuality programmes.

In a statement, MOE said it had not received any complaints from parents or from Dr Thio about the programmes.

The AWARE saga has stretched out over the past weeks and Dr Thio's views have been reported widely. She has been quoted as saying that on AWARE's sexuality programme, homosexuality is now regarded as a neutral word, not a negative word.

Giving details, MOE said 11 secondary schools engaged AWARE to run workshops on sexuality last year. The organisation also conducted assembly talks on topics such as self esteem at a few schools.

Schools that engaged AWARE found its programme content appropriate for their students, adhering to MOE guidelines.

Speaking to reporters at a visit to Yishun Town Secondary School, Senior Minister of State for Education S Iswaran said sexuality education is taught primarily by teachers, but schools have the flexibility to bring in other organisations.

"The guiding principle for this is very simple. It uses the family as the basic building block, as the basic foundation and helps the students make values-based decision on the whole issue of sexuality and in a manner that's sensitive to the multi-racial, multi-religious environment.

"Clearly, there are different perspectives in our society so MOE takes a very deliberate and cautious approach," he said.

The Education Ministry added that if parents know of an instance where these guidelines have not been adhered to, they should go directly to the ministry.

AWARE's EGM to Be Held at Singapore Expo

2009-04-28T22:42:00.001+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this story on 28 April 2009:

AWARE's extraordinary meeting to be held at Singapore Expo
By Cheryl Lim

SINGAPORE: The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) has changed the venue of its extraordinary meeting to Singapore Expo Hall 2.

The meeting, which will be held on 2 May from 2-5pm, was originally scheduled to be held at the HSR building in Toa Payoh.

AWARE's new executive committee had previously said they were looking for a new venue to accommodate the association's growing members who are expected to turn up.

According to AWARE spokesperson Lois Ng, the association's membership has now hit "four-figures".

Members will have to produce their identification cards for admission and registration.

Foreigners who are members will be required to produce their passports for the same purposes.

The new executive committee has also appointed law firm Rajah & Tann to act as their legal advisers.

Vivian Balakrishnan: Some Suggestions for AWARE

2009-04-28T17:09:00.000+08:00

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports wrote this note in his Facebook account on 27 April 2009:

Some Suggestions for AWARE

Many people have asked me about my views on the current controversy surrounding AWARE. I thought it may be useful to share some edited excerpts of an interview with the press yesterday.

AWARE is just one of the many organisations advancing the cause of women in Singapore. This is a problem the exco and the members have to solve themselves. Let me state categorically that at this point in time, the Government has no intention of intervening. Let them settle this democratically, according to their own rules, abiding with their constitution. The most that I would do at this stage perhaps is to give them some advice, and not just to AWARE but to all Singaporeans.

First, don't let a single issue hijack the agenda. We live in a multi-racial, diverse society. There will always be some issues where you cannot get everybody to agree on. We must be able to learn to live and let live, to agree to disagree and to do so agreeably. Don't let this single issue polarise and divide us and become the be-all and end-all of your social activism or of your organisation. If you allow these single issues to dominate and hijack your agenda, I think you're not going to succeed – it will ultimately be counter-productive.

Second, I think it is worth reiterating that because we live in a multi-religious society, it is potentially dangerous for religion to descend into the fray of petty politics - and more important than that, because we live in a multiracial and multi-religious society, we want to protect and nurture the special place religion has in our society. We don't want our religious organisations to be compromised or be damaged by the 'hurly-burly' of politicking which occurs on the ground. It's not a good idea to mix the two.

The third piece of advice I would like to give to all Singaporeans is that if you want to make meaningful change to our society, in the case of Singapore, you must always build a coalition. You must always make sure that your group has representation from all the different streams and segments that constitute Singapore. This is the only way to make meaningful change which would benefit all Singaporeans.

I hope we will bear these three points in mind: - don't let a single polarising issue hijack the agenda, keep religion above petty politics and create a representative coalition. We can then have a more mature civil society in which people can take ownership of the issue to achieve the common good, and still keep the unique cohesion and security of our open, tolerant and secular society, without worrying about unnecessary angst and anger. I think it is still possible and I encourage everyone to pay attention to the long term, the more important issues. There are many more important challenges facing us as a country, there are many more fundamental challenges facing our women. It'd be good if we can focus on that and not be distracted. I hope good sense prevails.

Workers Protest Against Unpaid Wages in Singapore

2009-04-27T22:54:00.000+08:00

AFP ran this story on 27 April 2009:

Workers protest against unpaid wages in Singapore

SINGAPORE - More than 100 construction workers from China gathered outside Singapore's manpower ministry Monday to complain about unpaid wages and cancellation of their work permits, witnesses said.

The workers sat for about two hours at the steps of the ministry, at a busy intersection near the Chinatown district, and shouted at ministry officials and police officers to air their grievances.

There was no violence, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

At one point, police warned the workers to disperse within five minutes or face arrest. They left but regrouped across a road from the ministry, and voluntarily dispersed about an hour later.

Workers interviewed by AFP said they had not been paid their wages after their Chinese 'boss' absconded with the money. They also complained that their work permits had been cancelled without warning.

Comment from the manpower ministry on the workers' complaints was not immediately available.

Some of the workers told officials that they had not committed any crime and could not be arrested, but police told them they were illegally trespassing on government property.

'The government should punish the company, not punish us by cancelling our permits. We just want our compensation so we can go back to China,' construction worker Zhou Qing Ren, 40, told AFP.

'We have got no money to eat now and no proper place to stay,' another worker shouted.

Singapore is tightening its rules on outdoor protests as it prepares to host its largest international summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' forum, in November.

Analysts said the laws against outdoor protests can also be applied to deal with any outbreaks of public frustration amid the city-state's worst recession in more than 40 years.

An estimated one million foreigners live in Singapore, representing more than 20 percent of the total population, which is predominantly ethnic Chinese.

Countering the Propaganda of AWARE’s New Exco

2009-04-27T10:47:00.000+08:00

Sgpolitics.net ran this commentary on 26 April 2009:

Countering the contradictions and poorly conceived propaganda of AWARE’s new Exco
Written by Ng E-Jay

It seems that AWARE’s new Exco cannot even tell a proper lie, nor are
they able to spin even a half-credible propaganda story.

EXAMPLE 1:

AWARE’s Vice-President Charlotte Lim told TODAY newspaper that Ms
Josie Lau was “touched by the outpouring of support and the
well-wishes from colleagues and members of the public“, and that
“people were giving her the thumbs-up all the time“. (TODAY, “Job
safe, but future of AWARE chief will be known on May 2″, 18 April
2009)

However, in the press conference on 23 April 2009, Ms Josie Lau said:
“So far I’ve kept a very stoic and dignified silence … … And this is
actually something that could have been resolved internally between
the Old Guard and the New Guard in a very polite and civil way. But
that has not happened. I’ll tell you so far I’ve only been appointed
President for about a week and I’ve only been an Exco member for about
3 weeks. But to date I’ve only been met with hostility, intimidation.
I felt so bullied I tell you.“. (See here.)

So in a mere span of five days (18 April to 23 April), Ms Josie Lau
has gone from being touched by an outpouring of public support for her
takeover, to being treated ONLY with hostility and intimidation.

EXAMPLE 2:

In an interview with Channel News Asia on 20 April 2009, Ms Josie Lau
said: “AWARE has become too diversified … … They are just moving into
too many areas and not going into depth.”

And yet at the press conference on 23 April 2009, the new Exco
lambasted the old guard for losing its focus and “steering AWARE into
becoming a single purpose organisation“. (Channel News Asia, “New exco
wants to bring AWARE back to its original cause“, 24 April 2009,
1:50am)

Can this motley crew of wannabes at least get their propaganda story
straight? Has AWARE become too diversified in its activities, or has
it become too narrow?

EXAMPLE 3:

During the press conference on 23 April 2009, AWARE’s new Exco
desperately tried to paint the picture that the old guard promoted
lesbianism, by citing the screening of the Taiwanese lesbian movie,
Spider Lilies, at its charity gala two years ago, and organizing a
lesbian-friendly Mother’s Day event in 2006.

Former Aware president Constance Singam clarified the next day that
movies screened at charity events over the years included Singapore
Dreaming, Mrs Henderson Presents, The Soong Sisters, Summer Snow and
Paradise Road, none of which have anything to do with lesbianism. In
fact, Singapore Dreaming is a 2006 film set in Singapore that most
decidedly embraces family values.

According to Constance Singam, Spider Lilies was about the
relationship between a tattoo artist and a Web camera woman. She said:
“One of my exco members ― a mother of three boys ― told me the two
protagonists’ sexuality was secondary. It was a film about love,
companionship and longing.”

The new Exco’s tendency to cherry-pick facts and circumstances to suit
their own propaganda whilst ignoring the mountain of evidence
suggesting otherwise is strongly indicative that their real intention
is not to help AWARE, but to destroy it.

EXAMPLE 4:

The new leadership has also made the outrageous allegation that the
old guard of AWARE used Comprehensive Sexuality Education (see here)
as a front for promoting lesbianism and sexual freedom.

Constance Singam clarified during the old guard’s press conference
that the CSE programme was a comprehensive one, designed to provide
teens with information in a non-judgmental way. She said: “We do not
teach kids to impart judgment, we just give them information … … Their
values come from their family, and their religion. Words like
‘homosexuality’, ’sexy’ and ‘virginity’ are neutral words because
AWARE is non-judgmental.”

This is an introduction to the CSE programme posted on AWARE’s website:

In 2007 AWARE developed and began conducting Comprehensive Sexuality
Education (CSE) workshops in secondary schools and welfare homes
around Singapore. CSE is a holistic sexual education program designed
for young women. It aims to replace the silence and shame associated
with sexuality with practical information and skills. By bringing
sexuality into the open, young people are more likely to make wise,
realistic, and informed decisions based on principles of human rights
and gender equality. Given the potential risks inherent in sexual
activity, we owe it to young people to help them safeguard their own
futures. Research shows that comprehensive sexuality education is
effective in providing young women and men with the tools, knowledge,
skills, attitudes, and values to make responsible choices about their
sexual health.

Netizens like myself have absolutely no clue how this programme could
remotely be associated with encouraging lesbianism.

Far from it being a front to promote lesbianism and sexual freedom,
CSE teaches youths to make informed decisions about sex, including the
ability to say “no”. International reports have shown that
comprehensive sex education is much more effective than
abstinence-only education in encouraging abstinence, lowering the
rates of unwanted pregnancies, and reducing STI transmission rates
(see here).

CONCLUSION:

Josie Lau and her motley crew must have been insane if they had ever
thought they could dish out such poorly conceived propaganda and
falsehoods and hope to get away with it.

Had this coup been orchestrated in the days without the internet,
possibly few people could have credibly challenged them, given limited
access to real-time information.

But today, anyone with determination and an internet connection can
take apart their lies and expose them for what they are.

Josie Lau and her gang are trying to destroy an organization that has
helped many women in distress, including victims of spousal abuse and
sexual harassment, and pregnant teens, simply because they do not
accept diversity in the modern world, and desire to impose their own
values and beliefs upon others.

The innocent victims of this whole saga are all those women in genuine
distress who are unable to receive help because of the inconsiderate
and bigoted attitudes of a group of women who are prepared to
disregard the suffering of others in their pursuit of ideological
purity.

Government Won't Interfere in AWARE Saga

2009-04-26T23:47:00.000+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this story on 26 April 2009:

Government won't interfere in AWARE saga
By S Ramesh/Cheryl Lim

SINGAPORE: The government has no intention of intervening in the saga involving AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research).

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Vivian Balakrishnan, said this on the sidelines of his visit to Nee Soon South on Sunday.

The problems facing AWARE are not a national one, so it is best for the organisation to settle them democratically and according to its constitution.

But still, the minister feels that Singaporeans can learn some lessons from the AWARE saga. The first is not to let a single issue hijack an organisation's agenda.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "There will always be some issues where you cannot get everybody to agree. We need to be able to learn to live and let live, to agree to disagree, and to do so agreeably. But don't let these single issues polarise or divide us and become the be-all and end-all of your social activism or your organisation."

The minister also emphasised that it is important for all Singaporeans to remember and also remain sensitive to the fact that they are living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society.

That's another lesson that must be learnt from the AWARE episode. So it is important for organisations to keep religion above the fray of petty politics.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "We want to protect and nurture the special place religion has in our society. We don't want our religious organisations to be compromised or be damaged by the hurly-burly of politicking which appears on the ground. It is not a good idea."

Lastly, Dr Balakrishnan said, if organisations want to make meaningful change to Singapore society, they must ensure representation from all segments which constitute the group.

He said there are many more challenges facing Singapore and women. It would be good to focus on them and not get distracted.

Separately, Law Minister K Shanmugam also said it is for the members of AWARE to sort out their problems.

He said the Societies Act clearly spells out how associations should conduct their affairs and the association's constitution also regulates arrangements between members.

He said: "The rules are all clear and one assumes that they will act according to the law and to their own internal constitution. I think it's premature to comment on what we might or might not do. We don't really get involved in this. It is for the members to sort it out."

Older Workers Most at Risk

2009-04-26T13:48:00.004+08:00

Today ran this story on 25 April 2009:

Older workers most at risk
By Lin Yanqin with additional reporting by Teo Xuanwei

FOREIGNERS are being laid off at a much faster rate than locals, while those with tertiary education aged 40 and above are at the highest risk of being retrenched as the recession takes its toll on companies.

These trends were confirmed by the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) final report on labour for 2008, released on Friday.

Redundancies among foreign nationals rose 158 per cent last year, more than twice the 72 per cent rate for locals. However, locals still accounted for the majority of all redundancies, at 61 per cent.

And unlike in previous recessions when the less educated were most likely to be laid off, mature residents with tertiary qualifications were the most vulnerable group last year, “with above-average risk of retrenchment and below-average re-employment”, the report said.

The trends are likely to persist in the coming months, although much depends on how different sectors perform as the downturn pans out, economists said.

Employers will probably still lay off foreigners before locals — partly because the Government’s implementation of policies such as the Jobs Credit Scheme has “tilted the balance in favour of locals”, they said.

“The Government hasn’t sat around waiting for the numbers to show them the warning signs, so the various policies have helped partly in shielding local workers,” explained CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun.

But if the downturn persists and it likely will, it is only a matter of time before more locals get axed, they warned. Layoffs surged to a record quarterly high of 9,410 workers in the fourth quarter of last year, nearly triple the 3,180 layoffs in the preceding quarter. For the whole of 2008, redundancies hit 16,880 workers.

Retrenchments have not hit the highs of previous recessions in 1998 and 2001, but Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said the situation would likely worsen this year.

“The redundancy numbers (for Q1 2009) will be released shortly, but I think this first quarter is going to be worse than the last quarter of 2008,” he told reporters on Friday during a visit to Resorts World Sentosa.

“Given that the slowdown in the economy is going to last a while, I think the labour market will remain soft for a few quarters,” he said.

But there are still many jobs available, he stressed, citing the ramping up of recruitment by Resorts World as an example, noting that the resort operator had said it would make hiring locals its priority. And helping firms cut operating costs and encouraging locals to upgrade their skills will keep the scale of redundancies manageable, he said.

On a brighter note, seven in 10 locals retrenched in the third quarter of last year were re-employed by December, which possibly reflected the more realistic expectations of job seekers amid a weak labour market.

Not surprisingly, companies cited the recession as the top reason for laying off workers, affecting four in 10 (41 per cent) retrenched. This was followed closely by business restructuring (39 per cent), according to the MOM report.

As an Economist Intelligence Unit survey reported by Today last month showed, six in 10 companies said the slowdown offered an opportunity to streamline their businesses.

The MOM report also showed that after five years of gradually reducing their share of retrenchment, small and medium enterprises — those with 25 to 199 workers — stepped up the pace of layoffs as the recession continued to bite. They accounted for 78 per cent of the layoffs last year, up 4.1 percentage points.

After Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted the need to increase training capacity, Mr Gan said on Friday the MOM would tweak schemes like the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience to enhance their relevance and impact.

How job losses pan out this year will depend on employers’ “perception of the depth of the downturn”, Mr Song said. “Those who think a recovery is in sight ... will not retrench. But those who anticipate it will get worse will probably decide to restructure.”

AWARE’s Public Education Officer Quits

2009-04-26T13:45:00.002+08:00

Today ran this story on 25 April 2009:

Aware’s public education officer quits
By Esther Ng

SHE was barely two months into the job before Aware’s centre manager Schutz Lee was sacked.

The reasons, according to Aware vice-president Charlotte Wong: Insubordination, blocking the president’s email and poor performance — allegations rebutted by Ms Lee.

“It was mostly performance-based,” Ms Wong told Today. She said she was alerted to Ms Lee’s performance by volunteer Lilian Wong who had helped out during the transition.

“Let me give you an example: I’ve been receiving irate calls from people, who, when signing up as ordinary members online, got a ‘student membership’ message,” said Ms Wong. “They were not students, but this problem has been ongoing for some time. As vice-president, I am concerned about these things.”

The association has student, ordinary, associate and life memberships.

On Friday, Ms Lee refuted the charges. “Firstly, I’m not a techie person. If there’s a problem, I’ll call the vendor,” she said, adding that the problem had existed for almost a year and she had got the vendor to look into it.

As to the charge of locking Aware president Josie Lau out of the organisation’s email system, Ms Lee said: “Charlotte comes to the office every day unlike Josie. On April 17, Charlotte asked me for the password to the president’s email. I gave her the password, the same one which I had given to (former president) Constance Singam — this was around 4.30pm. She spent around half-an-hour trying to access the email, but couldn’t.”

So, Ms Lee contacted their webmaster, who “created a password immediately” and gave it to Ms Wong before the vice-president left the premises.

As for insubordination,Ms Wong said Ms Lee corrected the president when she was making a statement to the media on April 15. Ms Lau had told the press that she was “delighted to have been elected”, at which point, Ms Lee pointed out that Ms Lau had been “appointed”.

Ms Lee, 41, said she had worked with many chief executives as a public relations consultant and marketing director, and it was her job to correct them when they were wrong.

“Is this insubordination?” she asked.

Ms Lee’s contract was due to expire on May 31.

The acrimonious exit ofMs Lee saw Aware’s public education executive Joanna D’Cruz also throw in the towel on Friday.

Said Ms D’Cruz: “It was the way they fired Schutz so easily. I was scared — this is my first job. I’m quite outspoken and I don’t like confrontations ... I don’t want to be fired.”

Aware has appointed a new manager, Ms Magdalene Teo, a member of Church of Our Saviour.

A Defence Tinged With Regret

2009-04-26T13:41:00.002+08:00

Today ran this story on 25 April 2009:

A defence tinged with regret
By Teo Xuanwei

TEARS welled up as she related how “saddened” she felt that it happened under her watch. Ms Constance Singam, the immediate past-president at the Association of Women for Action and Research, was visibly shaken when she said the “fundamental value of trust” in the women’s advocacy group was “gone”, following its very public leadership tussle.

And the implications for civil society arising from the dramatic events unfolding within the group, such as the death threats said to have been sent to the new leadership, were keenly felt as well.

“We are saddened and sorry. That’s not how we want civil society to operate,” said Dr Kanwaljit Soin, a founding member. “We don’t know who gave it to her and we don’t think such actions should take place in a civilised society.”

But the “Old Guard” firmly defended the way they ran Aware. In a heated 90-minute press conference on Friday, 10 members, accompanied by a legal adviser, responded to the newly-elected committee’s barbs that the feminist organisation has become pro-gay and pro-lesbian, among other things.

A press statement was issued to account for each activity listed by the current Exco to support their claims.

Responding to allegations that its comprehensive sexuality education programme promotes homosexuality, the Old Guard said information about lesbianism only constituted a “very small percentage of the whole package”.

Other elements included risks of unsafe sex and how to deal with peer pressure, for instance. Such activities were a bid to respond to the “changing needs of women”.

“Homosexuality exists. We cannot be ostriches and bury our heads and pretend it doesn’t exist. We have to address the issue,” said Dr Soin.

The common refrain from the 10 on Friday to refute claims that Aware has deviated from its original aims: It was set up as a “secular” and “inclusive” civil society. It does not seek to “impose values”, said Dr Soin.

“We are anti-discrimination. We are anti anti-anything,” Ms Singam said passionately.

The current crisis at Aware is also not about “women fighting against women”, the group noted, but should instead serve as a wake-up call for all civil society actors.

As advocates for issues that would benefit society, civil societies are “responsible for being transparent and accountable”, said Dr Soin.

The right way to go about advancing an issue was to work together within the organisation even when there were differing viewpoints, she added, and not “stealthily taking over”, as the focus eventually turned on the new Exco.

Dr Soin said: “There seems to be an ideological divide. It would have been more easily bridged if they had come in as members, gave us their viewpoints, see what they feel is objectionable and argue with us.”

The new Exco has not stated in exact terms what its agenda is and how it is going to carry it out, she added.

This demand, which had been made since the issue was reported, has now led to an online petition to opposed the new Exco at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting on May 2 — started by one of its founding members, Vivian Wee.

The Old Guard described the petition as “an expression of how civil society works”.

That more than 500 Singaporeans and foreigners have signed up is an indication they are “not happy with how things have worked out” since the elections, said Dr Soin.

Declining to speculate on whether the bid to overthrow the Exco would be successful, Ms Margaret Thomas, a founding member and past vice-president, said the Old Guard would have a slate of new candidates ready.

Ms Dana Lam, a past president, also took issue with the current Exco’s firing of staff. Noting that Aware has always been run by “dedicated” volunteers, she said: “We are not a corporation. We don’t hire and fire.”

Behind the barbs against the new Exco, however, there remained that notable a tinge of regret about the current crisis at Aware.

The Old Guard were sideswiped because it has traditionally been “too trusting” and “welcomed all new blood”, said Dr Soin.

AWARE Saga: A New Militancy Emerges

2009-04-25T12:56:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times ran this article on 25 April 2009:

Aware saga: A new militancy emerges
Tolerance is critical in the public sphere in a multi-religious society
By Chua Mui Hoong

THE battle lines have been drawn. And it is not just between Aware's
new executive committee and its old guard.

The leading women's advocacy group saw a stunning leadership change
when newcomers captured nine of 12 executive committee posts at the
group's annual general meeting on March 28. Older members questioned
their motives as well as the sudden influx of new members who joined
Aware just months before the AGM.

Four members of the new exco held a press conference on Thursday
evening. At the same time as the press conference was proceeding at
Raffles Town Club, an exco meeting was called at Aware's Dover Road
premises. The new team sacked the Aware centre's manager, a paid
employee, changed the locks at the Aware office and had a stand-off
with old guard members who turned up later.

Some see this episode as a 'catfight' among ambitious women. Others
see it as a tussle for control of a prominent women's advocacy group,
three of whose presidents have served as Nominated Members of
Parliament.

With four of the new exco members attending the same church - and
having the same 'feminist mentor' in the shape of lawyer Thio Su Mien
- and all espousing 'pro-family', anti-gay sentiments, some are
calling this a fight between the Christian Right and the Gay Lobby.

There is also an intra-Christian element here. For even within the
Christian community, there is concern about religious zeal spilling
over into the public sphere and giving Christianity an unduly
aggressive image in peaceful, multi-religious Singapore.

Some of the new exco members have been reportedly threatened, with one
receiving a death threat. Even if that were the act of an eccentric,
threats of violence against activists should never be condoned and
Singaporeans must be firm in denouncing such behaviour.

There is such a cauldron of emotions swirling over this issue that it
is hard to take a cool look at it. But that is precisely what is
needed - a hard-headed look at why this issue has roiled so many people.

At the risk of stating the obvious, religion mixed with socio-
political controversies is always a combustible combination.
Especially when faiths are interpreted in a fundamentalist way.

Tolerance and accommodation are critical attitudes for people of
different faiths to adopt towards one another in the public sphere.
Religion can be divisive, especially when it insists on a religiously-
informed view on any particular social, moral or cultural issue.

Secular, multi-religious societies must draw a line between what is
acceptable and what is not in the public domain. There is nothing
objectionable about zeal for one's faith per se. But action aimed at
invalidating or challenging other religions or enforcing a particular
religious view on everyone can have harmful social and political
consequences in a multi-religious society.

It is especially troublesome when people go beyond spreading their
religious beliefs to attempting to legislate their preferred moral
practices. For example, they may believe that the moral values their
church subscribes to should govern civil law. So if their church says
homosexuality and abortion are grievous sins, then the laws of the
land should outlaw such practices, even if many other people do not
agree.

The so-called Christian Right has made its presence felt in recent
years: in opposing the setting up of casinos, and in lobbying against
a motion to repeal section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises
sex between males.

While other religions too have been vocal on these issues, they have
adopted a live-and-let-live attitude, preferring to preach to their
own flock than convert others. The Christian Right is more organised,
vocal about claiming public space for debate, and savvy in using
constitutional means to advance its causes.

Concern over just where religious and social zeal will lead the new
Aware leadership is the reason many have reacted strongly to news of
its grab for power. Many are concerned that this group has established
a benchmark for religiously inspired activism that may well be
emulated by people of other faiths.

It would have been different if the group and its mentor Dr Thio had
been upfront about their association. It would have been even better
if they had formed their own organisation to propagate their social
plans.

But their decision, from the looks of it, to use Aware as a convenient
organisation to launch their cause has raised eyebrows. While the new
group was properly elected, its method has sown mistrust. They were
not a model of transparent organisation.

In recent years, much attention, for good reason, has been focused on
Islamic fundamentalism, given the violence of militant groups claiming
Islam as their inspiration. But religious fundamentalism of all kinds
can do harm - not necessarily to the physical body but certainly to
the body politic of a multi-faith society - if it invalidates others'
faiths and seeks to use the law to suppress the practices of minority
groups.

Singapore has long guarded its public sphere and common space
zealously to keep it free from religious strife. We should be no less
vigilant in guarding against new forms of militancy that may harm the
body politic.

AWARE Veterans Set the Record Straight

2009-04-25T09:38:00.006+08:00

The Online Citizen ran this story on 25 April 2009:

AWARE Veterans Set the Record Straight
Darren Boon

In a press conference on Friday evening, several veteran stalwarts from AWARE turned up to clarify several issues and accusations raised by the new AWARE team a day earlier.

Apart from the familiar faces of Dana Lim and Constance Singam, was Dr Kanwaljit Soin who broke her silence in public on the AWARE debacle. Dr Soin was one of the founding members of AWARE, and the president of AWARE from 1991 to 1993. She had also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) in Singapore from 1992 to 1996.

“As far as I know AWARE has not deviated from its original purpose,” Dr Soin said.

Dr Soin had made it clear that AWARE had been founded on the principle of inclusiveness, and clarified the misconception of AWARE being pro-gay. “We cannot condemn, deny or exclude any woman because of her sexual orientation, because she’s been abused by her husband or because she’s a single mother. And so we accept people for what they are,” she said.

Dr Soin said that AWARE is an organisation for women that supports the idea of women choosing the lives they want in another founding principle of ‘Women’s Lives, Women’s Choices’ or ‘Women’s Choices, Women’s Lives’. Dr Soin added that AWARE will offer support to women who approach the organisation for assistance.

Corinna Lim rubbished the talk that the screening of the lesbian movie Spider Lilies showed that AWARE is single-focused and gay-oriented. Lim pointed out that AWARE had also participated in other movie screenings such as the wholesome local family film Singapore Dreaming.

Lim explained that film distributors have approached AWARE to tie-up for charity events and sees this as a good fundraising activity for AWARE. Terms and conditions vary requiring AWARE to sometimes purchase advance tickets or publicising the membership, with AWARE taking a small profit.

Dr Soin also explained there’s a need to address the issue of homosexuality in its sexual education programmes if the programmes are to be comprehensive: “AWARE cannot be an ostrich and buries it head and pretends that it [homosexuality] doesn’t exist. But we don’t go out with this programme and say it’s okay to be lesbian.”

Constance Singam said that the sexual education programmes were introduced in the context of the increasing number of teenage sex, pregnancies and abortions three to four years ago.

“AWARE is not a religious organisation. We do not impose religious values,” Singam said.

She added: “What we are offering are the facts. Kids need space for open discussion where they can get facts, examine themselves, and that is the purpose, objective.”

Dana Lam explained that the education programme had been developed over a period of time with pilot workshops conducted with parental knowledge and involvement. “And we have received good feedback,” she said. “The mention of homosexuality is so miniscule compared to the whole topic.”

Meanwhile, the veterans have also clarified its process for its selection of trainers. In the pre-selection process, candidates have to go through an interview and essay-writing round. After the training programme, the trainers have to go through examinations.

AWARE has so far provided its sexual education training programmes to 12 schools, some of which had approached AWARE to conduct the programmes. The veterans also clarified that the schools have full knowledge of the programmes with teachers having seen and vetted the them before they were given the go ahead. An opt-out form is also provided for those who do not feel comfortable participating in the programmes.

The old guards clarified that teachers and social workers have audited the programme and AWARE has its own auditing process and when necessary made modifications.

Dr Soin also defended her decision to allow associate male members in AWARE. “I realise we cannot change the world for women until we bring the men on board. So we have to work with men hand in hand to change society into a more equal, compassionate and inclusive society.”

The claim that the old guards’ AWARE was trying to get men into the organisation was “inaccurate”, they said. The issue of giving men voting rights first surfaced at the 2008 AGM. A motion was tabled for this purpose but it was defeated. However, it was brought up again at the AGM in March 2009 where the new exco was voted in. At this meeting, the “election took the bulk of the time” and the issue was not debated.

Meanwhile Dr Soin said while she knows who the founding members of AWARE were, she is unaware of any involvement of Dr Thio Su Mien.

“I’ve not heard of Dr Thio Su Mien as being a feminist, so this was a little bit of a surprise for me. But then, we always have closet feminists,” Dr Soin said to laughter from those present.

In her tenure as an NMP in 1995, Dr Soin tabled a Family Violence Bill as a Private Member’s Bill in parliament. The Bill would allow for the protection of victims against family violence and marital rape and police intervention. Although the bill fell through, the issue on family violence has gained public awareness and prominence. The Women’s Charter was later amended by the Singapore government in 1997 and adapted principles and concepts from the proposed Family Violence Bill which gave women more protection from violence.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Govt Should Ensure Aware Stays Secular

2009-04-25T00:57:00.001+08:00

The Straits Times published this letter by Ravi Govindan in the Forum page on 24 April 2009:

Govt should ensure Aware stays secular

I REFER to the change in leadership of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). The technicalities of the society's leadership tussle are not an issue for most of us as it is an internal affair.

Of public concern is the implication of the leadership takeover, part of which was reflected by Ms Hafizah Osman in her letter on Monday, 'Passive supporters galvanised into action'.

Ms Hafizah was concerned that Aware was moving towards being an organisation of exclusion. I share her concern. To the neutral public, Aware serves a vital national purpose because it has pursued its aim of gender equality, regardless of race, religion or sexual preference, in a transparent, all-embracing way.

Because of its generosity of spirit and service to all, Aware has been a force for national good. My concern is whether the new leadership will continue this spirit of inclusiveness. Already, sexual minorities among the women have been forewarned that the new Aware agenda will exclude their voice.

While I am a conservative Asian family man, and firmly believe in the heterosexual definition of a married couple as the nucleus of a Singaporean family, I am, like Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, realistic enough to appreciate the importance of accommodating non-heterosexual citizens in an all-inclusive Singapore.

The old Aware's spirit of non-judgmental activism and generosity reflects the charity and kindliness of the civil society we are trying to build.

Part of the secular strength of Aware previously was that it comprised leaders from multi-religious backgrounds - Muslims, Catholics, Hindus and Buddhists. The new leaders are largely mono-religious and appear to hold singularly exclusive views about religion, social and family behaviour and sexual mores.

What are the checks and balances, for instance, to ensure that women who are at a low and vulnerable point in their lives, and who turn to Aware for help, are not turned towards religious rather than practical answers?

I hope the Government, particularly the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, will closely watch developments to ensure transparency and provide the necessary safeguards.

Ms Hafizah also wrote: 'Twenty-four years of serious work may now be threatened by a group of women whose religious affiliation may lead to an exclusionary Aware.'

I would add that government or independent guarantees must be in place to ensure that the wronged, the troubled and the abused whom the new Aware assists, should not have to be targets of proselytisation in order to receive the secular aid they need.

Petition Against New Aware

2009-04-25T00:17:00.001+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 24 April 2009:

Petition against new Aware
By Derrick Ho

CLOSE to 400 people have signed an online petition opposing the new leadership at the Assocation of Women for Action and Research (Aware).

The petition calls for the support of the 'Save Aware Campaign', and urges supporters to attend an extraordinary general meeting (EOGM) to consider a vote of no confidence in the new executive committee.

The EOGM is scheduled for next Saturday afternoon from 2 to 5pm.

The petition, citing various blogs and media sources, accuses the new leaders of orchestrating a 'hostile' takeover to further their own agenda. It also claims that the the new guard is linked to 'fundamentalist churches'.

A vote of no confidence would mean that that the current exco has lost the mandate and confidence of its members to continue as serving and that it has not acted the best interest of the organisation.

It will also imply that it is inadequate to further the organisation's objectives, according to the campaign's website. All members of the current exco will then be removed from their positions on the and a replacement exco will have to be elected to serve for the remainder of the current term.

The petition urges supporters of the campaign to sign up as members of Aware so that they will be able to vote during the EOGM. Non-members have no voting rights.

Membership at Aware has soared over the past two weeks with over 200 new members.

More Foreigners Let Go First

2009-04-25T00:06:00.001+08:00

The Straits Time ran this story on 24 April 2009:

More foreigners let go first

MORE foreign workers were laid off last year than locals as the economic slowdown hit companies hard.

Redundancies in 2008 rose faster in percentage terms for foreigners - at 153 per cent - than locals, at 72 per cent, according to a report released by Ministry of Manpower's Research and Statistics Department on Friday.

It said although locals formed the majority - 61 per cent - of the redundancies in 2008, their share came down from 70 per cent from a year ago.

On the other hand, the foreign share of total redundancies rose to a new high of 39 per cent, slightly more than the proportion of foreigners in Singapore's workforce, which was 36 per cent as at last December.

Companies cited the recession and economic downturn as the top reason, affecting four in 10 (41 per cent) workers retrenched, followed closely by business restructuring (39 per cent), said the report.

Over a fifth (22 per cent) cited high labour cost, and another 20 per cent blamed high operating cost.

'This was unlike in 2007 when the top reasons for retrenchment were the discontinuation of the production line and business reorganization,' said the report.

Due to the global nature of the current recession, the number of workers retrenched in exercises involving businesses relocating overseas fell from 1,520 in 2007 to a record low of 1,260 in 2008. They accounted for only 9.1 per cent of workers retrenched in private establishments, compared to 20 per cent in 2007.

The report said mature residents with tertiary education were the most vulnerable groups last year, 'with above-average risk of retrenchment and below-average re-employment.'

'This was unlike the previous downturns when the less educated were the most vulnerable,' it noted.

The 'Redundancies and Re-employment, 2008' report is available online on the Ministry of Manpower's website at http://www.mom.gov.sg/mrsd/publication.

Errant Employers Detected

2009-04-25T00:05:00.001+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 24 April 2009:

Errant employers detected
By Melissa Sim

THE Manpower Ministry's taskforce to detect errant employers early has turned up at least 48 companies since it was set up in January.

Five of the companies came to light this week when the media found out that more than 800 of their workers had had their work permits cancelled abruptly.

The taskforce was set up to detect employer malpractice early, before salary arrears accumulate and workers are stranded without work or proper accommodation.

It monitors employers who default on foreign worker levies and housing rents, indications of cash-flow problems. It also analyses information from inspections and intelligence received.

The creation of the taskforce came in the wake of numerous media reports late last year about foreign workers, especially those in the marine industry, who were left without work as business began drying up, or had not been paid salaries.

The two cases which surfaced this week shared similar characteristics.

On Thursday, more than 800 workers from three construction companies - Hokh Contract Services, Raffles Contractors and Neo-Built - gathered outside the building of their agent's office and complained that their work permits had been cancelled.

On Friday, the Chinese workers were at Mactech Industrial Building in Kallang Pudding Road again, trying to claim about $5,700 worth of fees they had paid for their passage to Singapore. Some said they had been here less than a month.

The second case involves 80 foreign workers from construction-related firms Alva Engineering and ACS Builders Construction, who told The Straits Times on Sunday that their permits had also been abruptly cancelled. These Bangladeshi workers had been in Singapore no longer than six months and many claimed they had not been paid for the little work - one to two months' worth - they had done.

LKY World City Prize

2009-04-24T23:59:00.000+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 24 April 2009:

LKY World City Prize
By Jessica Cheam

WHAT does it take to become a world-class city?

Innovative planning projects, policies and solutions that show foresight and good governance, it seems.

These are the qualities that Singapore is looking for in a new award it is launching: the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize.

Speaking at the annual Asia Society conference in Ho Chi Minh City, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said on Friday that the biennial award seeks to recognise individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the creation of vibrant, liveable and sustainable cities.

'Through this prize, we hope to facilitate the sharing of best practices in urban solutions and spur further innovation in the area of sustainable urban development and city excellence,' said Mr Mah.

Nominations will commence in June when the Prize is formally launched at the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Awards Ceremony, he added.

Lawyer's Key Role in Aware Coup

2009-04-24T23:45:00.000+08:00

The Straits Times ran this story on 24 April 2009:

Lawyer's key role in Aware coup
By Zakir Hussain

Dr Thio said she began monitoring Aware's about a year ago and was
disturbed by what she saw as signs that it was promoting lesbianism
and homosexuality.

SENIOR lawyer Thio Su Mien yesterday revealed the key role she played
in bringing about the change of leadership at the Association of Women
for Action and Research (Aware).

Appearing at a press conference called at short notice by some of the
association's new leaders, she said she was alarmed to discover that
Aware had lost sight of its original purpose and become pro-lesbian
and pro-homosexual.

Dr Thio, 71, a born-again Christian who runs her own law firm, is the
mother of Nominated Member of Parliament Thio Li-ann and her nephew,
Dr Alan Chin, is married to new Aware president Josie Lau.

She was the first woman dean of the Law Faculty at the then-University
of Singapore, from 1969 to 1971.

Introducing herself as a 'feminist mentor' to working women, she said
she began monitoring Aware's affairs about a year ago.

Disturbed by what she saw as signs that it was promoting lesbianism
and homosexuality, she began urging women she knew to challenge
Aware's attempts to redefine marriage and families.

Yesterday, the new Aware leaders said that they and their families had
been threatened and even received death threats, and they have
reported them to the police.

Dr Thio said: 'I feel kind of responsible for these difficulties they
are going through, because I was the one who mentored them over the
years.'

She said she had been teaching and counselling some of them in
different groups for up to 10 years.

She was 'absolutely outraged' that a group of women who just wanted to
contribute to society are now facing 'ferocious attacks'.

'I don't understand what has become of our people,' she added.

Dr Thio explained that her concern about the direction that Aware was
taking was partly prompted by a letter from a parent who was concerned
that the society was promoting a homosexual agenda.

He wrote to the Today newspaper in 2007 to ask why Aware's choice of a
movie for a charity show was Spider Lilies, about two lesbians who
fall in love.

Dr Thio said she went on to discover that in Aware's comprehensive
sexuality education programme, which is taken to schools,
homosexuality is regarded as a neutral word, not a negative word.

'I started thinking, 'Hey, parents, you better know what's
happening,'' she said.

'I talked to parents. I said: You better do something about this,
otherwise your daughter will come back and say, 'Mum, I want to marry
my girlfriend.'

'Or your son will say: 'Dad, I want to marry my boyfriend.''

These parents were flabbergasted, she said, adding that such sexuality
education was taking place in the United States and Europe and was not
new.

'What is happening in society is that we are redefining marriage, we
are redefining families,' she said.

'So I'm a concerned citizen and if people are so ignorant, I think I
want to teach them.'

Pointing out that Aware's programme was already in 30 schools, she
said: 'The suggestion is that in this programme, young girls from 12
to 18 are taught that it's okay to experiment with each other.

'And this is something which should concern parents in Singapore. Are
we going to have an entire generation of lesbians?'

Insisting that she was not anti-homosexual, she said: 'I have nothing
against lesbians or homosexuals personally. On a personal front, I've
ministered, I've counselled them.

'They are in pain. And very often from families where you have abusive
fathers, they do things with their daughters and the daughters revolt,
rebel against society.

'We understand this is what it's all about.'

Dr Thio said that Aware was formed 26 years ago by her contemporaries
and friends, and had done great work in many areas.

But she noted that its membership had dropped from about 700 in 1998
to around 200 in 2006.

She was dismayed that at the annual general meeting in 2008, there was
a move to give men the right to vote 'in a women's organisation where
the objective is to represent all the women of Singapore'.

Only 25 people attended that AGM. The motion was defeated, but
reappeared on the agenda at the AGM last month.

She then started looking into the affairs of Aware to see what was
going on at the organisation set up by her friends.

She said that there were many women's issues that needed to be looked
into, and cited the need to ensure that retrenched women are dealt
with fairly.

'I find to my dismay that Aware seems to be only very interested in
lesbianism and the advancement of homosexuality, which is a man's
issue,' she said.

She felt this matter had to be discussed, but Aware should focus on
going back to look after all women in Singapore.

'Can we re-focus on the excellent objectives of Aware? Go back to its
original purpose for it being an NGO?' she asked.

Death Threat Allegedly Received by AWARE Exco Member

2009-04-24T07:23:00.002+08:00

Today ran this story on 24 April 2009:

Death threat allegedly received by exco member
By Zul Othman

THE controversy at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) has taken a vicious turn, with death threats apparently having been issued to the husband of new president Josie Lau, and to honorary secretary Jenica Chua.

At a two-hour press conference last night at the Raffles Town Club — where passions boiled over and revelations came one after the other — Ms Lau described her one-week presidency as nothing short of emotional.

“So far I have kept a stoic and dignified silence … (but) to date I have only been met with hostility and intimation. My family received death threats and it is now a police case. Each day, I fear for the safety for my children and my family,” she said with passion.

Today understands that Ms Chua and Ms Lau’s husband, Dr Allan Chin, received the threat on April 14, and made a police report on the same day.

“The person who sent the threat said he has joined a jihadist group and ... will find ways to harm my loved ones,” said a visibly upsetMs Chua. “And all I did was join a women’s association. I couldn’t sleep for many nights.”

Ms Chua also said three days ago, someone had written to her company about her involvement in Aware and asked them to take action against her.

Ms Lau said she still couldn’t comprehend why their election to Aware’s executive committee at the March 28 annual general meeting “has sparked this sort of irrational fear”

“I feel so indignant. All I wanted to do was serve the community and be a member of Aware to push for the cause of women. Do I deserve this a death threat? What has Singapore become?”

Ms Lau, who was appointed to the post of president at an exco meeting last week, also claimed that she had been locked out of the organisation’s email system by the secretariat.

“I have confronted the secretariat and the person has been fired,” revealed Ms Lau. “All we wanted was to push forward and get going with our work. But they didn’t allow us, instead badgering us all the time.”

Also at the press conference was self-described “feminist mentor” Dr Thio Su Mien, who said she was “absolutely outraged” that the new exco had been “ferociously attacked”.

The former law dean and her daughter, Nominated MP Thio Li-Ann — who received a death threat last year after opposing a proposal to decriminalise gay sex — are related to Ms Lau’s husband, Dr Chin.

Admitting that before the March 28 AGM, she had emailed people she knew to point them to “what was happening” at Aware, Dr Thio said she felt the organisation had lost focus amid dwindling membership.

“To my horror I found out they wanted to introduce men into a women’s society,” she said. “And to my dismay, Aware seemed to be only interested in lesbianism and the advancement of homosexuality, which is a man’s issue.”

Despite this, honorary treasurer Maureen Ong denied allegations that their concerns about Aware’s direction had anything to do with their religious beliefs.

“I’m not afraid to say I’m a conservative person. I go to church yes, but that … is personal. I did not go to Aware to push my religious beliefs, I went to Aware because I was concerned (as a parent) with what’s happening."

Members also took issue with what they felt were some one-sided and inaccurate media reports. For instance, said Ms Chua: “At the AGM, none of us talked about our religious beliefs, although there was a lot of talk in the press.”

The Straits Times had quoted one old guard as saying that, when asked if she accepted homosexuality, Ms Chua had answered “no”.

She said: “We are now getting the audio transcript out. But in no way, in the AGM, did I say anything about homosexuality. No way … I’m very puzzled why the press has picked up this slant, when all I did was join a women’s association.”

New Exco Wants to Bring AWARE Back to Its "Original Cause"

2009-04-24T07:14:00.001+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this story on 24 April 2009:

New exco wants to bring AWARE back to its "original cause"
By Cheryl Lim

SINGAPORE: Bringing Aware back to its "original cause" - that is what the new executive committee (exco) of advocacy group, the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), is planning to do.

In an emotionally-charged news conference on Thursday, the new guard said AWARE has lost its focus.

They accused the old guard of steering AWARE into becoming a single purpose organisation.

Drama erupted even before the news conference started with current Honorary Treasurer Chew I-Jin accusing the new guard of intentionally excluding her from their news conference.

"I'm utterly disappointed and disgusted because I'm meant to do a presentation alongside you, Lois (Ng, Executive Committee member)," said Chew.

During the one-and-a-half hour event, the group introduced well-known corporate lawyer Dr Thio Su Mien, as their so-called "feminist mentor".

Dr Thio is the Senior Executive Director of TSMP Law Corporation and mother of Nominated MP, Dr Thio Li Ann.

The new exco said AWARE had become a single purpose organisation overly concerned with promoting lesbianism.

They repeatedly raised examples, like how the old guard had backed a lesbian film screening in 2007 and organised a lesbian-friendly Mother's Day event in 2006. And they wanted to bring the association back to what they say is its original noble cause.

When contacted for comment, former AWARE president Margaret Thomas said those comments were ridiculous and not deserving of any comment.

Dr Thio Su Mien also revealed that she had emailed several groups with her concerns about the direction the association was taking, which prompted reporters to ask if the takeover was orchestrated.

"It depends on what you mean by organising. It is kind of flattering in a way. I'm frustrated, I talk to people, I collect info, I send to different people. You want to join, (then) join. I will help you. We discover that networking helps," said Dr Thio, adviser to the new AWARE exco.

The new exco said none of them intend to step down, but revealed that taking up office has come with risks.

Several members received death threats which have been reported to the police.

"Each day, I fear for the physical safety of my children, my family. There's even a blog site detailing my children's names and which schools they go to," said Josie Lau, AWARE's president.

The team will go ahead with the extraordinary general meeting planned for May 2 and is looking for a new venue to accommodate its burgeoning membership. It is now 880 and still growing.

Showdown at AWARE Office Over Lock Change by New Exco

2009-04-24T07:10:00.002+08:00

ChannelNewsAsia ran this story on 23 April 2009:

Showdown at AWARE office over lock change by new exco
By Pearl Forss

SINGAPORE: It was a tense atmosphere at the AWARE office on Thursday evening as members of the old guard tried to prevent the new executive committee from changing the locks at the office.

The centre's manager, Schutz Lee, said she was not informed of the plans to change locks.

Ms Lee, who has been working there since February, was also fired without reason by the new executive committee at 8pm on Thursday.

Members of the old guard turned up hurriedly at the scene, anxious over the documents kept there.

Dana Lam, former AWARE president, said: "I walked in and there were three burly men sitting at the counter. It's not something we encounter at AWARE because it's a women's centre and we are giving counselling sessions to women who have been abused.

"The men have apparently been instructed by the president to change the lock in the centre. There is a vote of no-confidence going on here. By right, they have no right to make any changes. I am worried for my materials – 25 years of research material, including confidential material."

We Just Want the Truth

2009-04-24T07:01:00.000+08:00

Today ran this story on 24 April 2009:

We just want the truth
By Esther Ng

THEY may not have got the answer they had sought: What exactly happened on that fateful day?

But the family of David Widjaja, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student who fell to his death on campus last month after allegedly stabbing his lecturer, got their chance to raise their concerns with the police yesterday.

“We asked the police why were we not allowed to see David’s body fully. Why was the autopsy report send to NTU instead of us,” said Mr William Widjaja, 24, elder brother of the deceased, after the family’s 90-minute meeting yesterday with Deputy Superintendent Avadiar Pongenan, head of investigation at Jurong Police Divisional Headquarters.

“Why did the university release a statement about David stabbing the professor when the police have not even finished their investigation?” he added.

Lawyer Shashi Nathan, who had arranged the meeting, said the session, which was also attended by Indonesian Embassy official Yayan Mulyana, went well.

“It helped allay fears and concern the family had of a cover-up and conspiracy” said Mr Nathan. “The family told the police that they wanted the facts, the simple truth from all the rumours and speculation.”

Mr William told Today the police assured them of a “full and thorough investigation”.

As for the Widjajas’ unhappiness over the autopsy report being sent to NTU and the university’s statement, Mr Nathan told Today that he told the family to “take it up with NTU at a separate forum”.

“I told them ‘let’s deal with the coroner’s inquiry first’,” he added.

The incident has taken a toll on the family. David’s mother Tjhay Lie Khoon has lost 5kg and has trouble sleeping, said Mr Hartono Widjaja, father of the dead student.

The 56-year-old, who works for a trading firm in Indonesia, said he copes by working harder. “We just want to know the truth,” he added.

The family leaves for Indonesia tomorrow and will return shortly before the coroner’s inquest on May 20.

Hole in ECP Causes Massive Jam

2009-04-24T07:00:00.000+08:00

Today ran this story on 24 April 2009:

Hole in ECP causes massive jam
Lin Yanqin

A DEPRESSION about half-a-metre deep on the East Coast Parkway (ECP) near Marina Bay caused traffic to back up all the way to Lower Delta Road yesterday evening, as parts of the road were cordoned off for repairs.

No accidents were reported to the Police or the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the depression — about two metres wide and 50cm deep — appeared at about 2.15pm yesterday on the ECP just before the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort construction site. The cause was “likely due to ground settlement”, the LTA said in a statement to the media, adding that the matter was still being investigated.

As of yesterday evening, one lane on the ECP remained closed to traffic as LTA engineers worked on filling the depression and stabilising the surrounding area.

As he drove past the cordoned-off area yesterday, a 27-year-old motorist, who only wanted to be identified as Mr Zhu, said: “If anyone had driven over it really fast, it would have been a very serious accident.”