Of the SMRT disruptions. If you can't help, at least shut the f*ck up.

UPDATE: MP Seng Han Thong has since apologised.On the SMRT issue, one wonders why an MP would say on air that some staffs are “Malay(s), they are Indians, they cannot converse in English good, well enough”.Why did he just stop there? Did he listen to himself speak? He could have added on and said that his English was atrocious too. This is quite obvious the moment he opened his mouth to speak. Clearly, you don't have to speak well to be an MP and draw an obscene salary.Back to the issue at hand... Why couldn't he have said that the ground staff...

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Of disrupted train service & income opportunity

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Of the mature rivalry between PAP and WP

Perhaps things are beginning to look up for the local political scene now that PM Lee has acknowledged that there are no longer any "sure-win constituencies". WP's Chen Show Mao has succinctly spelt out what it means for Singaporeans to have a voice for the good of the nation. We live in interesting times.A mature rivalry between PAP and WP?Singapore's ruling party for 46 years has sounded a warning to its followers that its era of easy election victories is over. Future contests would be tougher, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who added...

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Of freedom of speech & freedom to post

In a span of 5 days, the police have been called to investigate 3 cases of racist posts in a public domain. It first started with Jason Neo, a then YPAP member and Christian Eliab Ratnam, a NSF. In an earlier Facebook posting, Christian was reported to have agreed with a statement attributed to LKY. The most recent person to be investigated is Donaldson Tan, former member of The Online Citizen, founder of New Asia Republic.Given that Singaporeans spend the most time on Facebook at an international level, it probably comes as no surprise that all...

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Of risque ads

Hi Singapore, if you think the Abercrombie ad was bad, look at this...Sure pales in comparison doesn't ...

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Of the ISA. True abolishment or a facade of skull-duggery?

This post is a response to a very lengthy article posted on Channel News Asia here.Since Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak declared that they (Malaysia) will abolish the ISA, local NGOs and political figures have also begin to adovcate / renew these calls. It is unlikely that Malaysia will abolish the ISA. More likely, PM Najib is "doing the groundwork" before the 13th Malaysia general elections. Look at the recent Bersih protest in July this year. After talks with the King, the organisers of the rally agreed to change the street protest to...

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Of August, and the road to a new president.

Would there be drama on 17 August, Nomination Day? Would one of the Tans enter the nomination center and be the elected president just like how an unknown became an MP in 24 hours only 4 months ago? Andrew Kuan has until 1pm this Saturday to submit his application for a Certificate of Eligibility.If you haven't been in touch with the happenings of the presidential elections, the Tans i.e. Tony Tan, Tan Kin Lian, Tan Cheng Bock and Tan Jee Say have submitted their eligibility application forms. With the outcome of the recent general elections fresh...

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Of August, candidates and f*cking doing it

It's August.Singapore soon turns 46 and Singaporeans would get to cast their vote for a a president who plays a ceremonial role for 4 million dollars. Else where in the world, a president who has handled at least 2 wars on his resume is now trying to steer his country out of recession. He earns S$507,400 (US$400,000).Here on the little red dot, a presidential hopeful visits Batam to extend campaign efforts. Oh yes. Visit the little island where locals go for a weekend get away to wakeboard, massage, play golf and have... liaisons.Another candidate,...

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Of the countries that snoops, Google tells all

Google has released its Transparency Report. According to the report, Times of India reported that ‎"When population sizes are taken into account, the figure puts Britain second in a table of 26 developed countries. Singapore, which has been condemned by human rights groups for its authoritarian regime, topped the table while Australia came third with 345 requests and France came fourth with 1,021 requests."Given that we were colonised by the English,...

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Of the introductory dramas

Now that the government has dissolved, what we had known to be the incumbent are showing their ugliest side.Dr Ng Eng Hen (PAP) said it was "a reasonable question from any voter" to question Mr Chen Show Mao's intentions for standing this election.Mr Chen Show Mao was named the "Dealmaker of the Year". This month's American Lawyer magazine had announced its picks for Dealmakers of the Year i.e. lawyers who worked on the biggest and most significant deals of 2010. Chen has the caliber that the PAP would seek to woo and eventually deign to win over...

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Of the responses to Singapore Budget 2011

This really isn't my cup of tea. So I'll shut up (I know when to unlike thepersonwhosebooksweresoldoutandrecentlyreplendishedontheshelves) and let the people from the Big 4 analyze it. Caveat: The comments come from companies based locally hence they tend to be *ahem favorable.PwC: Numerous Responses to Singapore Budget 2011The Singapore Budget 2011 was delivered Feb 18 by Finance Minister, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and it drew several responses from PwC experts. Gautam Banerjee, Executive Chairman, PwC LLP (Singapore)said it was a budget with something...

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Of the gazetting

Are the general elections drawing closer?I don't know. You tell me?After all, the authorities i.e. the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Media Development Authority have called for the socio-political blog, The Online Citizen to be gazetted as a political association. TOC has been gazetted.On 11 January,In my opinion, in its 4 years of operation, TOC has been a very transparent outfit. They have a Facebook account where they upload photographs...

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