<Pic credit: TODAY file photo>

The verdict of the case involving the law professor accused of corruptly obtaining gifts and sex from a former student will be delivered today, following a trial that spanned four months.

Tey Tsun Hang, 42, faces six counts of corruptly obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui, in return for giving her better grades between May and July 2010.

The prosecution’s case is that Tey — a professor at the National University of Singapore — had portrayed himself as someone who could influence Ms Ko’s career and drew her into a relationship.

It added that Tey then sought gratification in the form of gifts including a S$740 Montblanc pen, and sex, from a former student who was not in a position to resist.

The defence however, argued that Tey and Ms Ko were in a mutually loving and affectionate relationship.

If convicted, Tey faces a jail term of up to five years and a maximum fine of S$100,000 on each charge.

Source: CHANNEL NEWSASIA

Source: Channel News Asia

The Chinese tourist who defaced a 3,500-year-old Luxor temple relic unapologetically posted, "What's the big deal about writing just a few words?"

He had scratched the Chinese words, 'Ding Jinhao was here' and the vandalism was uncovered by a Weibo microblog user who visited the Egyptian temple on May 6 and posted it online.

Netizens hunted down the perpetrator, 15-year-old Ding Jinhao (丁锦昊), a middle school student in Nanjing, reported China Daily. They also hacked his school's website to shame him.

According to a report in AFP, they also hacked his school's website, forcing users to click on a sign parodying Ding's graffiti on the ancient sandstone relic on the banks of the Nile River, before entering.

"We want to apologise to the Egyptian people and to people who have paid attention to this case across China," Ding's mother said in Modern Express, a China newspaper.

They also said their son had "cried all night" after learning of the cyberattacks, which prompted them to issue the apology.

However, what their son has posted online does not seem apologetic. TT.mop, Tianya and Kanka news uploaded photos of the student and screenshots of his postings.

AFP also reported that a top China official lamented earlier this month that some Chinese tourists overseas are harming the country's image.

Mr Wang Yang, one of China's four vice premiers, condemned behaviours "talking loudly in public places, jay-walking, spitting and wilfully carving characters on items in scenic zones".

Last night, eight taxi buddies and I attended Ah Kow's funeral wake at the void deck of his 3 room flat in Jurong East. Ah Kow was a poor taxi driver who died of a heart attack a day earlier. He was 62, had no siblings and his parents died many years ago. As it was 3am when we arrived after our driving work, the wake was deserted. But Ah Kow had many friends who must had attended his wake earlier in the evening.

The simple coffin was placed on two wooden stood two feet above the ground and a recent photograph of Ah Kow was placed at the head of the coffin which was not sealed during the wake. As a timid person, I didn't dare to have a last look at him inside his coffin. I'm sure Ah Kow would understand and forgive me.

Foods, fruits, two paper "servants", an alter for burning of incense and two lighted white candles were placed infront of the coffin. We lighted incense, bowed as a sign of respect to the family and made a donation of a few hundred dollars to help the family defray the costs of the funeral.The donation money was a collection from all his taxi buddies in Jurong Central coffee shop. Each gave between $20 - $30. 

"James, did you hear about Ah Ong, the taxi driver?," asked Roy, my best friend who had a lucky escape from a recent heart attack.

"Which Ah Ong?" I replied with a question.

"You know... the older guy with glasses, always smoking " Roy continued.

Roy could be describing about half the taxi drivers at the wake, including myself.

"Yeah, well, last week Ah Ong went to the doctor complaining about a back ache and chess pain. Turns out he had terminal lung cancer. He had maybe two weeks to live then" Roy said in a sad voice.

"Geez... really?" I was surprised with his revelation.

"For months he figured he was just stiff from driving long shifts. It got to the point he could barely stand up."  Roy said as he demonstrated with both hand at his hips and a hunched back. 

"Wow, how sad" I softly let off a grief.  

"All they can do is give him something for the pain... He finished out the week driving, then went home to die." Roy said sternly.

"What? He decided to spend one of his last days on earth driving a cab and die?" I exclaimed loudly.

"What else was he going to do? He's been driving a cab more than thirty years. That's twelve hours a day, seven days a week, every week of the year. I've been driving nearly fifteen years and I don't remember him ever taking a vacation. No hobbies. No real friends. Just driving a cab and his family. He put his two kids through university, though!"Roy said as calmly as he could.

"How old is he, Roy?" I asked

" About 65, I guess."

"That's my age, Roy."

Now, I don't even know Ah Ong but this shook me up. Not because of the tragedy of his death, but because of the tragedy of his life. I wonder if 35 years ago, at 30 when Ong first started driving, what dreams he had for himself. At 30, he was strong, full of energy, with nothing but time and his imagination standing between him and the future.

Perhaps he wanted to go to night class, travel the world as a sailor, start his own business. Perhaps he figured cab driving was a part-time, something to tide him over. Perhaps he looked at all the other middle-aged men driving cabs and told himself, "I'll never let myself turn into that, God forbid!". But who knows the future?

Then he met a girl, got married, had one kid, then another, and suddenly all those doors closed. He had responsibilities, bills to pay, obligations to keep. All of his dreams evaporated like his breath on a cold morning. And maybe years later he looked in the mirror one morning. He saw the face staring back him with the graying temples and the thinning hair and the dark circles under his eyes and he asked himself, "OMG, where did the last thirty years went?"

But then, he may have told himself, he wasn't that old- only 65.. He could still have dreams. Maybe once the kids are grown-up on their own; maybe once the HDB mortgage is paid off; maybe once the wife and he can finally save a little money and time for themselves.

But first, he told himself, he got to go to the doctor and get his back checked out. Then came the shocking news of his lung cancer and his world shattered instantly. sigh!. 

Life can take a sudden turn and we've no control over it no matter how we monitor our health and safety. We all have only one shot at life and nobody knows when it will end. So, before it's too late, let's take stock of our life now. Unfortunately, for poorer Singaporean like taxi drivers, there's no much stock to talk about, when faced with escalating costs of living, scarcity of suitable jobs, no welfare, no money. To us, life is a daily struggle to place three meals on the table, paying household & medical bills and keeping the roof above our head. Don't believe?, join the rank.

I asked Roy how he, himself got into cab driving. He explained that he started as technician in the construction of the MRT lines. After MRT completion, he went driving a cab at 35. Like the rest of us, he thought it would be a part-time thing. But, one thing led to another and fifteen years later, here he is, still driving his yellow cab and surviving two heart attacks!.

Does he ever think about doing something else? "Nah, I don't give it much thought. What can I do at my old age with only a secondary education. Be a guard, cleaner or junk collector? Money not enough. Must drive to live!" Roy answered scornfully. 

That's the sad reality of living in the 6th most expensive country in the world. With a 30 years HDB mortgage, children schooling, PUB bills, expensive medicine for chronic illness, etc..etc...and no much help from the authorities, most Singaporean like taxi drivers had to work without retirement till they drop dead. period! I think the only consolation is seeing the children growing up, doing well in studies and hoping they have a good job and a brighter future than themselves.

Away from the depressing reality and morbid subject of death, we kept vigil at the wake for about an hour and tried our best to lessen the grief of Ah Kow's wife. Her two grown up children were asleep beside the coffin. As Ah Kow's family was poor, the length of the wake was a single day to allow for the offering of prayers. A few hours more, Ah Kow will be cremated at Mandai Crematorium.

I spend the rest of the morning in a kind of daze. I keep thinking about those lines: "Get busy living, or get busy driving and dying." and "while we are alive, do we know how to live?. In the end, I think "it matters not how long we live, but how well with whatever we have".

"Our Model Worker. He'll works till his last breath & leaves his CPF to his children "			"Good.  Well done!!".!

He’s someone who doesn’t just read the propagandist ST and swallow it whole – hook, line and sinker. As he knows only too well what’s their hidden agenda. So he’s not in the least surprised that the apparatus of mass assimilation is in the business of embellishing, eliding and massaging the truth to keep the status quo ante. Neither does a netizen have any problems in calling a spade a spade vis-a-vis the ST is a machine to engineer consent.

He’s also not someone whose dumb enough enough to just take and run with what someone in TV has to say about life and their objects of interest in general. As again he knows there is more than one way to get ahead in life and though he may agree the tried and yellow brick road of officialdom certainly offers one way, it’s certainly not the only or the best way. So the netizen will always prefer to go his way.

Neither is a netizen someone who just takes and run with whatever is served up in blogosphere as he knows only too well Potemkin sites such as Singaporedaily and Breakfast Network exist to serve a very real and sinister goal – and that goal MAY have very little to do with beaconing out the murk or for that matter furthering the truth.

Dont believe me then go and ferret out the history of those who claim to be the new purveyors of the truth online. Go on! You owe it to your brain just as you probably owe it to your well being to read food labels before you start gobbling it all down.

In summary, the netizens is the prototypal modern thinking man. A man who knows only too well – life is NEVER so simple as how it’s so often forwarded by the custodians of power and their minions – a sort of man who will always peer into darkened interiors, nurse his askance and always interrogate whatever comes before him – as he is none other than the humble seeker of the truth and nothing but the truth. Hardly the sort don’t you think so, who will compromise his values simply because it makes sense these days to know which side of the bread is buttered…..like so many sanctimonious pricks and cunts who I rather prefer avoid and read my book or play my violin instead.

And that is definitely uncommon in Singapore. Get used to it! Because that will always be in your face whether you like it or not!

DotSeng

*The author blogs at http://dotseng.wordpress.com/

FAS President and MP Zainudin Nordin (left) with new Singapore Head Coach and ex-Starsi informer, Bernd Stange (Photo FAS).

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced 2 weeks ago (15 May) that it has appointed Bernd Stange as the next National Team Head Coach on a two-year contract. Mr Stange replaced the previous head coach, Raddy Avramovic, who retired after the Lions lifted the ASEAN Football Federation’s Suzuki Cup in Dec last year.

The 65-year-old German coach was said to have achieved several remarkable results during his term as national coach of Belarus. He has also coached the national teams of East Germany and Iraq.

Mr Stange said, “I am deeply honoured to have been appointed from a pool of more than 100 qualified candidates. It was a rigorous process which enabled both FAS and I to have a clear understanding of each other’s objectives and goals, and I am both impressed and motivated by the professionalism, vision and footballing goals of the Association.”

He added, “I am looking forward with excitement to playing a role to further develop football in this beautiful country.”

FAS President and MP Zainudin Nordin said, “Bernd is one of the most respected coaches in Europe today and he brings with him a wealth of international experience, ability and track record of building and managing successful teams despite the constraints.”

“As we mentioned previously, we have a rigorous recruitment process in place to ensure that we select only the best available person. Through our own contacts and referrals from our partners including FIFA, UEFA and several leading Football Associations, we received applications from many qualified candidates who, together with those submitted by Sports Recruitment International, were part of the long list.”

“We will support Bernd to the best of our abilities and work closely with him as we strive towards the goals spelt out in the Strategic Plan as well as the mid-term and immediate targets we have set.”

Informer working for Stasi

In 1982 before the Berlin Wall went down, Mr Stange was appointed head coach of East Germany national team after years working as assistant coach and head coach of the Under 21s.

After the unification of Germany in the late 80s, he returned to his former football club FC Carl Zeiss Jena and later moved to coach another club, Hertha BSC. Then in 1992, his old ties as an informant for the dreaded East German secret police, the Stasi, surfaced.

According to Stasi files uncovered in 1992, he had been on the payroll of the feared secret police before the unification of Germany. Those files declared Stange had the code name “Kurt Wegner” and was tasked by the Stasi with informing on his players, who may have criticised the East German government or looked to defect. [Link] [Link].

According to other Stasi files for 1976, he not only volunteered to break into a flat to steal a diary, but also betrayed a family friend’s plans to flee to the West.

Four years after Jörg Berger, Stange’s friend and fellow manager, had fled to West Germany via Yugoslavia, he received a phone call from Stange, who asked him about his knowledge of current East German players. This 1984 conversation was then used by the Stasi as evidence that Berger planned to help players defect, placing him in considerable danger. “Stange was already the national coach and had no need to do this,” said Berger, after his files emerged. “He was just career-obsessed and it was also about money.”

When the extent of his Stasi involvement was revealed in 1995, Stange lost his job and became persona non grata in German football scene. He then left Germany and went overseas, coaching and being team managers in various places in the world including Ukraine, Australia, Oman, Iraq, Cyprus, Belarus and now Singapore.

In July 2007 Stange revived concerns about his judgment by becoming Belarus coach. Since Alexander Lukashenko came to power in 1994, Belarus has been described as Europe’s last dictatorship, whose human-rights abuses include the imprisonment and disappearance of opposition leaders, media censorship and undemocratic elections. “I couldn’t care less about that,” Stange stated bluntly. “I’m the national manager of a country with a huge football tradition and that’s all that counts. My working conditions are as good as anything that I’ve experienced in my long football career.” [Link]

TR Emeritus

*Article first appeared on www.TREmeritus.com

Singapore police who examined the scene of an American's death admitted on the last day of a coroner's inquest Monday that they deviated from official protocols by not dusting for fingerprints or collecting DNA samples, and by examining the contents of a laptop computer there.

Shane Truman Todd's body was found in his Singapore apartment by his girlfriend last June 24, and police have said he killed himself. State counsel presented evidence of links to suicide websites on the 31-year-old's laptop and suicide letters written to family members and loved ones.

Todd's parents, Rick and Mary Todd, told The Associated Press in March that they believe he may have been murdered over his research in the U.S. into material used to make heat-resistant semiconductors, a technology with both civilian and military applications. The Todds have received assistance in the case from U.S. senators and the FBI.

When asked by government lawyers why police had not ordered a further investigation of the apartment, police Sgt. Muhammad Khaldun Bin Sarif said he and his partner had made "a preliminary assessment" that pointed to suicide and determined there were "no signs of foul play." He said the officers decided as a result "not to perform fingerprint dustings or DNA swabs."

Asked why he had deviated from police protocols by assessing a personal laptop at a crime scene, Khaldun said he had found two notes in Todd's apartment, one of which contained a password which he used to gain access to the laptop nearby.

Khaldun explained that the protocol was only "a guideline which can be deviated from." He said he and his partner made an "operational decision" to assess Todd's laptop because the note containing the password "was left there for a reason" and would help police in determining whether there was foul play involved.

Todd's family has asked why police accessed his laptop and cellphone even though such items are supposed to be handed over to forensic technology specialists.

The coroner's inquiry into Todd's death ended Monday, a day earlier than expected. Lawyers for the Todd family were not present in court because they had been dismissed by Todd's parents, who left Singapore last Thursday after withdrawing from the inquest, saying they had no confidence in the city-state's legal process. Friends of the Todds were also not present in court.

The Todds have said that while they were in Singapore, they found a hard drive in their son's apartment that contained thousands of documents he had backed up from his work computer. After having it analyzed by a computer forensics expert, they found a draft of a project outline between Singapore's Institute of Microelectronics -- Shane Todd's former employer -- and Chinese telecom giant Huawei on the development of a device that utilized gallium nitride.

The heat-resistant material has civilian uses in products like LED screens and cellphone towers, and military applications in things like radar and satellite systems. Todd had been trained in the U.S. on proprietary equipment that produces the material but is restricted for export because of the potential military applications.

Huawei has said it had no cooperation with the Institute of Microelectronics related to gallium nitride. IME has said neither Todd nor the company was involved in any classified research.

The Todds have said that their next step will be to urge a U.S. congressional investigation into their son's death. "If our government wants to talk about industrial espionage and murder, we're more than willing to help," Rick Todd said.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/05/27/singapore-police-acknowledge-violating-protocols-in-investigation-american/#ixzz2UZiymMde

TRS reader Ben feels that his experience in polytechnic feels like nothing but a popularity contest.

He elaborates:

"I would like to make a confession about my experience in poly ever since I started school.

"I just entered Ngee Ann Polytechnic this year and so far, it doesn't feel like I am attending school at all. 

"Everyone is too busy trying to be popular to care about the main reason why they go to school. 

"I feel like everyone here prefers to be popular rather than educated as everyone is always shopping online or playing games on their laptops because it is the 'cool' thing to do.

"My friend from secondary school joined an IG (Interest Group) because it is supposedly an IG where the popular people are.

"From what I observed, I can also safely say that everyone goes for social events for the sake of showing off on Twitter or Instagram.

"No one is actually having a good time when they go for such events, they only pretend like they are on social networks.

"I regret coming to this polytechnic. Everyone is too vain and no one is interested in doing well."

From June 1, websites that regularly report Singapore news and have significant reach will require individual licenses to operate.

Currently, most websites are covered automatically under a class licence scheme. But the Media Development Authority (MDA) will require websites to be individually licensed once they meet two criteria.

These are: if they report an average of at least one article per week on Singapore's news and current affairs over a period of two months, and have at least 50,000 unique visitors from Singapore each month over a period of two months. The individual licenses have to be renewed every year.

Under the new framework, these sites must also put up a performance bond of $50,000, similar to that required for niche TV broadcasters.

In a press statement, the MDA said: “This will place them on a more consistent regulatory framework with traditional news platforms which are already individually licensed.”

The licence makes clear that online news sites are expected to remove content that is in breach of MDA standards within 24 hours, once notified to do so.

For refusing to comply with any of the conditions, MDA has the power to ‘impose financial penalties or suspend or revoke the incumbent’s licence’. However the authority will investigate any breaches before deciding on the appropriate penalties.

I wrote this a number of times : the PAP Government’s skill set is long out-dated. Either it is incapable of, or refused to upgrade its skill set.

Unlike governments of many other countries in the world, the PAP Government is only able to manage Singapore without noises and dissenting voices. It is also incapable of contesting an election if its opponents’ criticisms are not reduced to minimum.

Fortunately for the PAP, it did manage to get that ‘quiet’ environment to operate for several decades. But then, time has changed. Singaporeans are getting more educated and increasingly less politically naïve. News and information provided by the cyber world offered a different lens of looking at the same event reported by government controlled media.

Suddenly, the PAP Government finds itself in an unfamiliar and crippling position. Its policies are regularly criticised. Problems and mistakes within its administration get reported long before its public relations team has a chance to study the case. Ministers’ criticisms on public members or events are often being counter challenged. Election results had been disappointing too.

As we know, the culture of an organization determines the type of people joining it. While existing ministers and MPs find it painful to bear the heat further, prospective candidates who fit the PAP’s unique criteria are having second thought about joining the party.

For decades, the ruling party has relied heavily on its powerful propaganda machinery to remain in absolute power, namely SPH and MediaCorp. The availability of alternative news in cyber world has increasingly diverted eye-balls away from state controlled media, thereby reducing not only advertising revenue but more importantly, the effectiveness of the government’s propaganda machinery.

The PAP sees itself in deep troubles. Either it upgrades its governing skill – which it is incapable of doing, or silenced the noises from cyber world.

We knew it would come and we have not been disappointed : yesterday, the government announced a new MDA licensing regulation for websites reporting about Singapore news.

Effectively, the government is saying : any website which in my opinion is found to be (1). reporting news and current affairs about my country regularly (i.e. on average one article per week), and (2). attracting significant number of readers (defined as 50,000 visits within one month) from my country, must hold a valid licence from me.

The licence has to be renewed annually and a performance bond of $50,000 is required. If the government is unhappy with the content of an article, it must be removed within 24 hours.

In other words, if you don’t remove the content within 24 hours, you lose your S$50,000 bond, and on top of that, your licence will not be renewed.

What about foreign based websites? Yaacob Ibrahim, the Minister for Communications and Information, hinted yesterday that he already had a solution in mind : an amendment to laws on media services, including foreign websites targeting Singapore market, would be introduced next year.

It remains to be seen how effective is the new regulation in getting websites to report Singapore news and current affairs in the PAP’s way, and bringing Singaporeans’ political maturity back to the 1970s era.

No one can also be too sure, how many parliamentary seats the new regulation would help the ruling party to recover from the Opposition.

Likewise, it is uncertain whether the new regulation could have a stemming effect on declining readership and viewership of SPH papers and Media Corp broadcasting. Already ranked at 149th globally, how much more competitive pressure could both local companies take?

Celia Lim

By Anonymous TRS reader

Oi PAP,

Why use the Motherfucker Demonic Assholes to control the internet? $50,000 bond for writing online? Order to remove a post within 24 hours? Simi lanjiao development is this? CENSORSHIP CALL IT CENSORSHIP LAH! Knn want to fuck your critics still wayang so much think we kum gongs like your grassloot lechers ah?

You wanna shut down my favourite media The Real Singapore and want me to read The Straits Times everyday instead, its like killing my soulmate and then force me to marry someone i don't love! FUCK YOU!

Your jiak liao bee minister also one kind, look at what he said:

"It's about making sure that our regulatory framework is consistent -- that's the most important thing. At the moment, whether we like it or not, Singaporeans are receiving news both from mainstream media and online sites.

"Our mainstream media are subjected to rules, you know... Why shouldn't the online media be part of that regulatory framework? 

"I don't see this as a clamping down, if anything, it is regularising what is already happening on the Internet and (making sure) that they are on par with our mainstream media."

Consistent your mother. What is most important is to silence the online media from reporting your lanjiao policies and especially the fucked up Themasak Holdings right? Lose our CPF money, be consistent like your cb States Times, don't report and keep quiet right? Press freedom ranking at 149th, highest income gap, most unhappy nation, highest influx of foreigners, town councils lose money, ALL DON'T NEED TO REPORT! CONSISTENT MAH! States Times says Workers' Party fucked up, so online media must also be consistent and say they fucked up right? States Times says PAP number 1 government in the world and Singaporeans are ingrates, online media must also be consistent right?

Consistency is not an issue, because if you are, you should be paying a monthly salary for fucking you upside down like how you pay your leeporters to carry your balls in national news media. If keeping PAP in power is most important, just say so lah. Knn so much wayang machiam watching taiwan drama.

And Yakult, you don't see the flood coming every 50 years. So now you don't see this as clamping down? Don't talk cock lah. You know why you kena demoted from Water Resources Minister to become Minister of Propaganda? Coz you buay gan. Your boss must be telling you bo nao cannot handle Singapore's water issue, but he never tell you bo nao also cannot handle propaganda hahahaha!

PAP, just declare all Opposition Parties illegal and arrest all Opposition voters in the name of national interests lah. Who vote Opposition fine $500 lah. Why have Prime Minister? Let him be our supreme dear leader Fuhrer lah. You can bring countless number of foreigners into Singapore and decree Singaporeans to work as maids for rich foreign talents also can mah.

Below is the video i wanna delicate to you PAP shitholes

Fuck you,

Anonymous TRS reader

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THERE USED TO be a time when I really felt something for this country I live in; it used to be I considered myself lucky to be born Singaporean, and it used to be that I truly believed life would be great growing up in this prosperous city-state.

As I went through and completed school, and when I started working life as an adult, things still seemed rosy, and I committed myself to work hard and then spend happy days ahead building up a family and finally retiring contented with my lot in life.

Of late, however, I am beginning to wonder if things are still going great. Now that Wifey and I are seriously in family planning mode, I’m beginning to wonder just how affordable it would be to continue living here, what with rising costs and such—and some costs have risen ridiculously high, in my opinion: housing for one, medical bills next.

We live in a reasonably comfortable apartment, but I was just thinking the other day about the extra space we would be needing to house 4 generations—my parents, Wifey and I, and the kid(s) we hope to have. And it would be nice to have a place with a garden where I could finally get that family dog I’ve always wanted (I like larger breeds like retrievers) where in my picture-perfect mind, the kid(s) and the mutt would be running about happily to while away the hours as Wifey and I watch on from day couches on the verandah.

In space-constrained Singapore, my dream home would come across as somewhat extravagant: as it is, there are people who think my 1,860sq ft 3-bedroom apartment is “nice” enough for a small family, but in my little heart of hearts, I beg to differ—not that I am showy or greedy, but I would like to have a house where we could have little spaces of our own, and I like the idea of having a proper library/home office where I could read or catch up on work undisturbed.

Vin Diesel and some other Hollywood stars recently squirmed when he heard how expensive cars can be in Singapore compared to his native United States; I get the feeling he would think this is one impossible country to live in if you tossed in the cost of housing into the picture. Indeed, the other day, I was talking to one of my Malaysian friends, and he commented “I wonder how you guys could survive.”

Well, barely, I guess: I get the notion that regardless of how well you think you were paid, it’s probably never enough.The government encourages people to be prudent and that life would be comfortable enough if we chose to live by simpler standards—in reality, no one wants to lead a mediocre life. We all aspire to reach a certain lifestyle, and I don’t think anyone is really happy or contented living in tight small spaces, jostling for space in crammed public transport or eating chicken rice at hawker centres for every meal—not when there are shiny glamorous posters abound all over that advertise luxury living. This is a highly materialistic society we live in after all.

In other words, we could probably survive and live within our means if we tried, regardless of how much we are paid, but it doesn’t mean we are all happy in the way we lead our lives.

My late father-in-law used to say you cannot afford to fall ill in Singapore, and that you’re better off dead once and for all than to be stricken with some long-drawn ailment, given the cost of medical care here. He said this with even more conviction as he was battling liver cancer, and when he finally succumbed to the disease, truly, there were sighs of relief all around—in part because he was finally eased of his pain permanently; but also true was the fact that the burden of hefty medical bills was over as well.

I have to be very candid here: the standard and level of medical care goes hand-in-hand with how much you are willing and able to pay—at the end of the day, hospital and doctors are running businesses too, and one would be naive to think that just because the Hippocratic Oath is still being sworn today by medical practitioners, doctors and specialists will necessarily be altruistic in their cause. The differences were jarring right from the way you were talked down to by specialist consultants and even nurses if you could only afford a basic package versus how you would be serenaded and danced to if you could easily pay for a course of medicine that costs $90 per pill—and the fact that you’re struggling for the next breath or wear a constant grimace on your face because of the pain you’re experiencing wouldn’t make a difference. Yes, we do have one of the best medical care systems in the world; we’re certainly the best in Asia—but all this, provided you can pay.

And everyday you read comments by people on Twitter and Facebook lamenting about just how much it sucks to be living here. I think it’s not just a case of people whining and complaining for nothing: they want to be heard because there truly is a lot of frustration on the ground, and enough of the teasing sideshows, they want solutions that are tangible and make sense to them. More importantly, they want solutions that they can afford, not solutions that are deemed best-in-class but out of their financial reach.

I don’t believe in simply whining and complaining and waiting for people to come up with solutions to my challenges: I like to take charge of things, and I am of the opinion that the world is a far bigger place than just this tiny dot, prosperous as it may be, and that if it no longer makes sense for me to be living here and starting a family, then logically I should pack my bags and relocate to a place where I can attain the kind of standard and lifestyle I aspire to have.

We started looking, and what we found were pleasantly surprising. For instance, I came across a gorgeous looking apartment in Bangkok that we can easily afford if we’d sold off our place, and with something extra to either purchase another smaller property we could collect rent, or start a small business; if we moved up north a little further to Chiang Mai, I could get a nice landed property with a great view and have the space for a litter of dogs and kidS (with a capital ‘S’) running about.

It would be myopic to say that the standard of living in Thailand would be necessarily lower than in Singapore: it would be synonymous with New Yorkers thinking once out of the States, you can’t find a place that offers all the little luxuries and indulgences you fancied anywhere else in the world.

Don’t get me wrong: I still remain Singaporean at heart, and I don’t think I would give up my citizenship. Being the pragmatist that I am, I think I really should be thinking up options that would make sense to me, instead of idealistically hoping that things would work out themselves—I’m not really a man of faith but what I am is a firm believer of using one’s common sense and logic to go figure how to make your own life better.

So here’s the deal: thank you to my dear homeland for the great opportunities I’d been given—a world-class education, stability and peace in my growing years, and other infrastructures in place that had been great until recently when we started getting a little too crowded—I’m grateful to be born and raised here, but don’t count on me to live out the rest of my life here.

Just think of me as an eagle that needs to (finally) spread my wings and soar above my roost after all these years; it’s time I started moving on to the next big chapter in my life.
 

RIOTOUS ASSEMBLY

*The author blogs at http://riotousassembly.wordpress.com/

THE REAL SINGAPORE'S STATEMENT ON THE NEW MDA REGULATION

To Minister Yaacob and MDA:

We are glad to hear that you have come to terms that the online practitioners(or whatever fanciful terms the Institute of Policy Studies would like to call us) will not subject themselves to a Code of Conduct as you have previously advocated in November 2011 [Source]. And indeed, you have stopped asking for a Code of Conduct and instead cut to the chase of your real aim: Media Oppression.

You have started by trying to be a little more subtle about it. by only targeting the state media and Yahoo! But it's easy to see through the plot at the ultimate aim of controlling all influential online media.

Of course, the fact remains the Internet cannot be regulated no matter how unhappy you are with criticisms online, or whatever silly regulations you are coming out with. We anonymous writers always have our ways of working around your silly rules. Our intentions of writing to you here is not only to tell you what a child’s play your regulation is, but the real implications for enforcing such a dictatorial ruling.

Implications on the PAP

Perhaps this is all about efficiency, the efficiency for political domination. We do note this totalitarian decision could still go well in your textbooks so long any of your overpaid Ministers could front another hypocritical classic: “Doing the right thing more important than winning votes” [Source]

Perhaps you have been influenced and frightened by the Malaysian Election, where the Opposition won past the 50% popular vote for the first time in history. Who in PAP wouldn’t be? What kind of job in the private sector do you think a PAP Minister, say Lim Swee Say, would get for his atrocious language and incompetency? This fear of the loss of power is very real, but you have let fear possessed you to make a befuddled and hasty decision.

Last time we checked Singapore is still a democracy, but why is the rule – which is poised to take effect in less than 5 days – not tabled as a motion by any of the Member of Parliament? Please specify what other regulations that the PAP government could implement in less than 5 days without going through the Parliament’s approval. You may want to abolish the Parliament and convert all laws to be personal directives from the Prime Minister. The PAP ideology seems to have surpassed both Democracy and Communism because both systems enforce laws only through a motion tabled by a committee.

Today, you have successfully proven your critics correct that Singapore is not a democracy. The world news is not going to be kind on you – oh of course you wouldn’t give a damn – but what we do know is that

1) Governments and human rights organizations in free countries like the EU, US and Australia are taking notes
2) International surveys, statistics and rankings are going to embarrass you further
3) Your critics have gained credibility
4) You are going to lose more seats in Parliament

If there is an opinion poll today, your popularity surely would have inched a notch lower. Any decent person can see the political motivation stamped all over the ruling. Your propaganda mouthpiece can only do so much. Although the PAP is already a sinking ship, you have hasten your death. The decision is short sighted, ad hoc fire fighting and obviously an expired manner of governance outdated in today’s context. It is apparent you are not leaders, who have the foresight to envisage the kind of Singapore we should be having.

You can rest assured you will fail in your attempt to suppress the media. We will also take this opportunity to call for more online users to go anonymous. We will prove to you silencing the critics will not work, and we will continue to ensure you will be voted out in 2016.

TRS Chief Editor Nat Xela

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NSP: New Internet Media 

Regulation a Step Backwards 

May 29 2013,

Singapore

The National Solidarity Party (NSP) is deeply concerned by the Media Development Authority's (MDA) announcement on the 28th of May, of a new regulatory regime for internet media companies that regularly report on Singapore news.

It is puzzling that at a time when it should be promoting more open and frank discussion about national issues, the Government has instead seen fit to increase regulation on a media landscape that is already tightly controlled.

Furthermore, this is a curious move because according to the MDA itself, online media companies are already subject to regulatory requirements and it expects no change in content standards as a result of the new regulation.

The MDA should clarify why, if existing regulation has been able to ensure acceptable content standards, new regulation is required.

Three aspects of the new regulatory regime are especially troubling:

1. Takedown rule

While giving itself the authority to demand the takedown of articles containing "prohibited content" within 24 hours, the MDA has not clearly spelt out what constitutes such prohibited content. In its press statement the MDA cited content that is prejudicial to racial harmony. This is an obvious and non-controversial instance of the takedown rule being applied. One wonders if this rule will also be extended to articles critical of government policy, articles tagged with reader comments that are critical of the government and articles that generally express opinions contrary to prevailing political wisdom.

We therefore call on the MDA to clearly articulate the instances in which it may invoke this authority, as well as make transparent which person or group of persons within its organization is empowered to exercise discretion in the application of this authority.

2. Performance bond

We are concerned that the $50,000 performance bond is calculated to have a disciplining effect on media organizations that may then exercise self-censorship in the first instance, rather than risk incurring financial penalty.

$50,000 is also a potentially high barrier to entry for burgeoning independent news outlets to operate and flourish. The effect of this barrier will ultimately be a diminution of our civil discourse and narrowing the language of our thought.

3. Qualifying Requirements

Finally, the minimum qualifying requirements of one published article a week over a two-month period and a traffic base of at least 50,000 unique users may discourage international news organizations from reporting Singapore news regularly for fear of becoming subject to the new regulations themselves.

Whither our National Conversation?

Taken together, the NSP believes that the spirit and the conditions of the new regulation will have a regressive effect on the development of the local media industry and the quality of journalism at large in our country.

While the Government has made much of its intention to be more open and engaged with the citizenry, by this latest move, we cannot help but be left with the feeling that it has merely been paying lip service to the notion of a National Conversation.

Hazel Poa

Secretary-General

On behalf of the Central Executive Committee

In light of the introduction of the new licensing framework for online news sites, I had also written an email to Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam to appeal. 

I had also written an email to the Media Development Authority (MDA) yesterday and am awaiting their reply. 

Dear DPM Tharman,

I am writing to you with regard to the introduction of the Media Development Authority (MDA)’s new licensing requirement for online news sites [1]. I am concerned that the introduction of the new licensing requirement can stifle the rising political awareness among Singaporeans. I am aware that the PAP government finds the growing discourse on sociopolitical issues a concern and this licensing requirement might or might not have an impact on reducing such discourses.

First, please let me introduce myself. My name is Roy Ngerng. I am a blogger at The Heart Truths [2]. You might or might not have read the blog. I understand that it is ironic that I am writing to you, seeing that in the blog, I do sometimes take critical stances towards PAP.

However, sir, I believe in you and am heartened by your recent actions, which is why I had deemed it befitting to write to you. Budget 2013 was a decidedly more pro-people and pro-social budget. I had also read the recommendations by the Economic Review Committee which was convened in 2001 [3], which you had chaired and were favourably comforted by the recommendations, even as some of the recommendations hadn’t been enacted. In your recent interview with Singapolitics [4], you had said that the Singapore that you had hoped for would be one where “we treat each other as equals, which is I think a different type of meritocracy.”

You had also said that, the PAP should “Bring up views from all quarters of society. Take them seriously. Help the thinking process take place on the part of citizens” and that “It’s a very risky situation and it’s also not what people want” that the PAP “remain a completely dominant player, dominating all discussions”.

Which is why, in light of this, that the introduction of the new licensing requirement by the MDA has not been as favourably viewed by a segment of Singaporeans. I am not privy to the decisions by the MDA and the PAP. But some of the on-ground sentiments are that the new licensing requirement is aimed at “curbing dissent among Singaporeans towards PAP”.

I understand that for the PAP, it can be frustrating that a segment of Singaporeans are critical of the PAP even as the “PAP MPs work very hard at it (and) They don’t always get credit for it.” There are many things that I appreciate about Singapore and of the PAP government – our safety and security, our infrastructure and the relative material comfort, among others.

However, if I may be allowed to, the current unhappiness that Singaporeans face is due to an increasing cost of living, which has been unmatched by a rise in wages and their retirement funds. It could thus be unsurprising that the drop in PAP’s vote share over the past 3 general elections can also be correlated to the decrease in the proportion of Singaporeans who had been able to meet their CPF and Medisave minimum sums, rising healthcare costs and income inequality. At the same time, it has been perceived that the government’s assistance towards the people had not been increasing – the CPF interest rate has remained at a constant and the government’s healthcare expenditure on our healthcare expenditure has remained low.

My intention of bringing this up is not to chastise the government, for how long and how far can we “blame” one another? It would be detrimental to the Singapore society and as you had mentioned, is a “risky situation” if we were to continue to do so.

There had been times in Singapore’s modern history that the PAP had seen increasing support among Singaporeans over consecutive general elections, in the 1970s and 1990s, where the PAP had garnered peaks of 77.7% of the vote share in 1980 and 75.3% in 2001, respectively. The decades in which the PAP had increasing vote share were also decades where the people’s wages were growing with economic growth and they were able to continue to contribute and live in balanced ways in Singapore. The felt that they could live their lives well.

My purpose of writing this email to you is to let you know how I, as well as some Singaporeans, feel. I believe that all Singaporeans are grateful to the PAP for transforming Singapore from a Third World to First World Economy in Singapore’s initial years. But in the past decade, we have felt the pangs of growth and have been trying hard to adjust to it. For some of us, we feel that our best recourse is to vote another political party into government so that this party could also represent some of our voices.  You see, DPM Tharman, we are simply worried about our own livelihoods.

In the report by the Censorship Review Committee 2010 [5], it had said that ”Community engagement is essentially about bringing the views of citizens to bear on the development of public services. In this sense, it is about citizen empowerment.” The report had also said that, “Simply explained, engagement means that “government must transfer some of the ownership of and responsibility for solving complex issues and achieving societal goals back to the public – and the public must agree to take this on”.”

In recent years, many Singaporeans have gone onto the Internet because we would like to “take on” the “responsibility for solving complex issues and achieving societal goals”. Admittedly, as Singaporeans have only been learning to use this new-found voice over the past decade, our feedback online might not have been as cultivated. Similarly, the PAP government has been trying to suitably adjust to growing use of the Internet, and thus the introduction of the new licensing requirement.

You had also said at the interview with Singapolitics that, “We’re still in a phase where it is overwhelmingly critical of Government, not all, but overwhelmingly, and that I think it is understandable. You know, that’s the way it starts. And I think there are now more serious bloggers and some very thoughtful bloggers who have views of their own that are not just motivated by wanting to hit at the Government but they want to express their thoughts and they’re worth reading and listening to. Over time, hopefully, there will be a bit more of a debate, an even debate in the online media. We don’t have it yet but you can see it gradually emerging and that’s a situation that I think we want to come to. It is a plus that you have social media because a lot more people are involved in commenting and thinking about issues but it’s got to evolve further, so that it matures and you’ve got a more even-handed disposition.” These are wise words.

On behalf of a segment of Singaporeans, I would like to seek your understanding in this matter. For many of us Singaporeans, we are only beginning to realise the stake that we have in Singapore and how we need to take ownership and be empowered over our own lives. My own journey began only last year. We genuinely want to also shape a Singapore which belongs to us all. Many Singaporeans might sound “angry” online but I hope that you can understand that this is because we feel that we have finally regained our ability to speak up, after years of seeming inability to do so, and it would take some time for us to learn to use it more constructively, just as it would also take some time for a government which had not been used to feedback to also learn to adjust to receiving them. It is a two-way process.

You had said that, “So civil society is more active and people are just a lot more aware of issues and I think that’s been a positive.” I am heartened by your understanding. DPM Tharman, it is my sincere wish that the people in Singapore, be it whether we are the government or the common Singaporean, are able to come together to make Singapore work. We have done it for almost 50 years. And we can do it for another 50 – Singaporeans are here with you, if they know that the government can be trusted to care for them. I understand that the PAP wants to maintain its power and dominance and this is possible, but if the people believe that they can trust the PAP to remain concerned for all of Singapore.

There is a glimmer of hope and opportunity at this point where the government and the people can reach out to one another to establish a common understanding. This would require both sides to let go of their insecurities and be willing to put their heads together. DPM Tharman, I urge the government to engage netizens, even as they might be seen as “dissenters”. If we are able to iron out the distrust with have towards one another, this would allow us to turn the page and focus on developing Singapore in the new era. I urge the government to work with netizens to shape the discourse online towards more constructive and responsible expression, through an openness in the exchange of our ideas and in more thorough engagement.

I hope that the government will reconsider the introduction of the new licensing requirement for online news sites and instead, cater time for mutual engagement and understanding, so that we can shape discourse online to become one that would be beneficial for the intellectual growth of Singapore.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Roy

[1] Online news sites to be placed on a more consistent licensing framework as traditional news platforms http://www.mda.gov.sg/NewsAndEvents/PressRelease/2013/Pages/28052013.aspx

[2] The Heart Truths http://thehearttruths.com/

[3] Refocusing the CPF System for Enhanced Security in Retirement and Economic Flexibility http://www.mti.gov.sg/ResearchRoom/Documents/app.mti.gov.sg/data/pages/507/doc/3%20ERC_CPF.pdf

[4] Ask DPM Tharman: The full transcript http://www.singapolitics.sg/features/ask-dpm-tharman-full-transcript

[5] Censorship Review Committee 2010 Report http://www.mda.gov.sg/Public/Consultation/Documents/CRC_2010_Report.pdf

Roy - One of Singapore's most influential bloggers

*The author blogs at www.TheHeartTruths.com

by Bhavan Jaipragas

SINGAPORE, May 29, 2013 (AFP) - Singapore's feisty online community reacted angrily Wednesday to an announcement that news websites including one operated by Yahoo! will have to obtain licences subjecting them to rules governing traditional media.

"It is obvious that the new rules are to set and control the tone of discourse online, a concern which the government has had for a while now," said Andrew Loh, the editor of socio-political website Publichouse.sg.

"The rise of social media, as an increasing number of Singaporeans get their news online, has now prompted the government to let go of its promised 'light touch' on the Internet," he wrote on the site.

Singapore is one of Asia's wealthiest and most wired nations but also one of the most regimented.

Its traditional media are widely seen to be pro-government, giving rise to alternative sources of news online amid growing discontent with the ruling party and its policies.

The popular news site of Yahoo! Singapore was included Tuesday on a list of 10 websites that will have to obtain annual licences starting Saturday -- all the nine others are sites run by mainstream Singapore media groups.

The Media Development Authority (MDA), the official media watchdog, said websites that have at least 50,000 unique visitors from Singapore every month and publish at least one local news article a week fall under the new rules.

Websites granted a licence will have to remove "prohibited content" such as articles that undermine racial or religious harmony" within 24 hours of being notified by the MDA.

International media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontieres ranked Singapore 149th globally in press freedom this year, down 14 places from 2012 and below neighbours such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

Yahoo! Singapore, which has a team of reporters doing independent coverage, has become a magnet for anti-government comments posted by readers in reaction to local news stories.

Executives at Yahoo! Singapore told AFP they would not comment until they see details of the licensing rules.

"It certainly looks like there's political motivation behind this new licensing framework, and the motivation seems to be to rein in Yahoo! Singapore," wrote prominent blogger Ravi Philemon.

Others questioned what they called the arbitrary nature of the MDA's decision to require Yahoo! to obtain a licence under the new regulatory regime while leaving untouched volunteer-run blogs also popular among Singaporeans.

"MDA's failure to explain how its new policy is to be applied at present suggest that the manner in which it is being introduced is opaque and arbitrary," wrote the editors of socio-political website The Online Citizen.

There was no immediate reaction from the MDA to the criticism.

In its announcement Tuesday, it said it expected "no change in content standards" since websites already must comply with content restrictions, citing in particular the need to curb "content that underlines racial or religious harmony" in the multi-ethnic society.

Traditional media outlets, owned by Singapore Press Holdings and state-linked broadcasting group Mediacorp, are subject to licences that can be revoked at any time by the authorities.

The People's Action Party, in power for more than 50 years, suffered its worst ever electoral performance in May 2011, getting an all-time low of 60 percent of the popular vote after the opposition and its supporters relied heavily on social media for campaigning.
 

Sin Chew News

*Article first appeared on http://www.mysinchew.com/node/86960

These pictures are stills from videos captured by a self-proclaimed stalker in public places in Singapore and uploaded onto YouTube.

The videos appear to have been filmed using a handphone or spy camera, and were uploaded onto his channel with such titles as "SG cute OL going Thai pub" and "SYT at Alexandria Hospital Pharmacy".

OL and SYT are local acronyms meaning 'office lady' and 'sweet young thing' respectively.

In total, there are 30 videos uploaded on his channel, of which 28 feature women secretly filmed in lifts, supermarkets, outside karaoke lounges and other public places.

TRS reader Rachel had been concerned by what she saw on the channel, and she informed us.

She wrote:

"Singapore ladies, beware of this stalker.

"The videos were probably taken by spy videocam."

These videos serve as a reminder to all women to remain alert to people filming them in public.

Should you find yourself in one of his videos, do not hesitate to report the matter to the Police. In addition, you might want to report the matter to YouTube in order to have the videos removed.

Not sure if people outside of the industry know, but the former CEO of MDA, Aubeck Kam, is now the Permanent Secretary for the re-organised Ministry of Communications and Information. 

My previous interaction with him was while he was at MDA, when I asked in a public forum about support for online publications which fall under MDA's Publishing department. The answer is that there isn't: there isn't for technology upgrades (even if you change coding language), there isn't for support for marketing/ advertising funds, NOTHING.

In contrast, print publications get all kinds of perks, including subsidies to convert print to "apps" or "e-books", paid/ subsidized trip to book fairs abroad, etc. (online media has no "book fairs" equivalent because we live in the digital realm)

MDA won't help what they call a "mature" industry (mature because it's easy to set up a "website") but they are surely happy to regulate it.

Kien Lee

Founder & Managing Director at SENATUS a popular Fashion magazine

TRS reader John gave $10 to a cute looking girl who asked him to make a donation, and received this voucher from fast food restaurant Chicken Heaven in return. It turns out that the chain had engaged a direct-selling company to sell the vouchers, with only 40 percent of the proceeds going to charity.

A representative of Chicken Heaven has since explained their involvement in the 'donation drive'.

The TRS reader wrote:

"I believe I have a lead in TRS recent post about young teens approaching people at MRT stations for $10 donations.

"A few days ago, I was in a rush to the MRT at Jurong East, but I was approached by a lady who was asking for ten dollars for charity. Because I was in a rush, I gave her the money, and strangely enough, she gave me a Chicken Heaven voucher, which gives discounts for the fast food restaurant. 

"But I realized on the MRT that I was scammed because on the voucher itself, it states that I have bought the voucher for the money. 

"Thus I went to their Facebook website and saw a post under 'Recent posts by others' that wrote, quote, 

"'Guys watch out. There's a promoter claiming to be selling $10 Chicken Heaven discounted coupons for CHARITY AND FOR A GOOD CAUSE. This is not the case as behind the coupon it states "not for donation or charity." , and so on, you can read the website yourself linked below.

"The Facebook admin of Chicken Heaven actually replied saying that actually only 40% goes to charity."

The following message was also posted on Chicken Heaven's facebook page:

"Dear Victor, we in Chicken Heaven are very sorry to know that if in anyway there are misinterpretation during your purchase of our Promotional Voucher at $10/-. 

"We have engage a Direct Selling company, Invixo Consultancy & Services to sell our Advertising Vouchers and please contacted Mdm Goh or Mr Jackson at 6871 8743 to address your incident and we too will seek an explanation from them. 

"We also do understand that 40% of the sales proceed goes to a Non-Profit organisation called Hope & Aspiration Association (HAA) http://haa.org.sg and we are fine with that. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for highlighting such issue to us. 

"Feel free to call us anytime or drop us any update pertaining to the said matter and we will update you too."