Jumper not allowed to defer NS, will miss 2 key junior meets
NATIONAL long jumper Matthew Goh's dreams of winning a medal at the World and Asian junior athletics championships in July have been dashed.
This, after the Ministry of Defence rejected his appeal to postpone the start of his national service stint by three months. Mindef conveyed its decision to Matthew on Tuesday.
Said the 18-year-old, who will have to enlist next Wednesday as scheduled: 'It's very disappointing, especially as my father tried everything... We fought hard, but in the end that wasn't enough.'
Friday, April 23, 2010
the keng NS man
The Harry's man
HE RUNS 28 bars on this island, but admits candidly that he prefers to enjoy his drinks elsewhere. That should tell you a lot about Mr Mohan Mulani.
Noticing my raised eyebrows when he mentioned this, Mr Mulani adds: 'I avoid drinking at my outlets because then I run into too many people I know.' The message is clear: This man values his down time, he doesn't want to mix business with pleasure.
In fact, as we chat over coffee at his flagship outlet - Harry's @ Boat Quay, which was his first purchase when he made his foray into the food and beverage industry in 1994 - Mr Mulani admits that he is most proud of having just become a published author. The 28 bars (that figure will become 31 by November), the catering company, the nightclubs, the restaurants, the textile trading business before that... all that pales before his latest achievement: a 168-page book titled The Story Of Harry's.
It chronicles Mr Mulani's life from his Sindhi roots (he was born in Sidhpur, a small town in north Gujarat) to his family's move to Singapore (his father moved here first, and the family followed in late 1960) to his education (he went to Haig Boys' School, Broadrick Secondary School and Tanjong Katong Technical School before getting a degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles) to his stint in the family business (he is a Sindhi, after all) to his Harry's life (buy the book from any major bookstore if you want to know more).
It is also an embodiment of Mr Mulani's outlook on how human beings mature. 'As we get older, we start to reinvent ourselves,' he says, adding that he has started taking deeper looks at life and how it pans out eventually. 'I'm reading Freedom At Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre... it talks about some very crucial events that affected the lives of many people,' he says. It is a hint that, having just turned 50, this man has started looking beyond his corporate achievements so far.
He has become much more appreciative of what life has given him. He speaks about the roller-coaster ride he has endured in his professional life - the financial crisis in 1997 hit him hard and he fought hard to stave off bankruptcy - without embarrassment or rancour. In fact, the dedication in his book is a glowing tribute to Singapore and he writes about the growth of his chain of bars: 'Harry's is riding on the coattails of Singapore.'
He has become much more aware of his health. He plays squash twice a week and runs regularly on the treadmill. You get a notion of how seriously this trim man takes his fitness pursuits when he tells you, with well deserved pride, that he can run 6.6km in 40 minutes.
And he has become much more protective of his personal life. He refuses to give us a photograph of himself with his wife Rita (she is part of the Harry's Holdings family, looking after the Gymboree playschool business in Singapore and Malaysia) and their daughters Drishti, 21, and Virti, 17. He even requests that we don't meander in that direction in our conversation, but relents when promised we wouldn't get too personal.
He is however willing to share more about his plans for Harry's Holdings. Having grown the brand from bars to restaurants (five Mirchi outlets and Marrakesh) and even nightclubs (The Rupee Room and Bollywood And Beyond), he has taken the company public - it is currently listed on the Phillip Securities OTC Capital market but Mr Mulani wants to have it listed on the Singapore Exchange's Catalist board by the first half of this year.
Mr Mulani's latest corporate move is into the hotel trade, setting up a boutique hotel called The Club in Singapore's Chinatown area. It is a branch of the business he is keen on growing overseas too, with India being the first port of call.
When I tell him about my recent trip to Kerala and the houseboat industry that is booming there ' over 1,000 houseboats ply the placid backwaters of Allepey, giving tourists a taste of the laidback lifestyle that permeates that region ' his eyes sharpen their focus. Sitting up, he turns the tables on me. Suddenly, he is the interviewer and I am the interviewee as he asks me about the place and the type of tourist traffic it attracts.
This businessman can sniff out opportunity from miles, even countries, away. That flash of business acumen was probably what made him start on this Harry's journey. Much has been written about how Mr Mulani used to patronise Harry's Bar at Boat Quay and how, when he found out the owners were thinking of selling it, he bought the place. All very romantic and the stuff of feel-good stories. But let's get real here... how often do regulars buy their favourite bar when it's about to go out of business'
That business acumen also added a refreshing touch to Mr Mulani's book: Every copy entitles you to one bottle of Harry's Premium Lager. While that sounds like great value for a book that costs $25 before GST, the truth of the matter is this: How many of us would go all the way to a Harry's outlet, show the book, claim the free beer... and walk away after draining just one bottle of beer'
That's why I think there's more to Mr Mulani's habit of heading anywhere but a Harry's bar when he feels like having a drink. Having had the pleasure of meeting the man, and getting a feel of his business smarts, I'm convinced he's using that time to suss out the competition... and probably figure out how he can spread the Harry's mojo even further. -tabla!
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HE RUNS 28 bars on this island, but admits candidly that he prefers to enjoy his drinks elsewhere. That should tell you a lot about Mr Mohan Mulani.
Noticing my raised eyebrows when he mentioned this, Mr Mulani adds: 'I avoid drinking at my outlets because then I run into too many people I know.' The message is clear: This man values his down time, he doesn't want to mix business with pleasure.
In fact, as we chat over coffee at his flagship outlet - Harry's @ Boat Quay, which was his first purchase when he made his foray into the food and beverage industry in 1994 - Mr Mulani admits that he is most proud of having just become a published author. The 28 bars (that figure will become 31 by November), the catering company, the nightclubs, the restaurants, the textile trading business before that... all that pales before his latest achievement: a 168-page book titled The Story Of Harry's.
It chronicles Mr Mulani's life from his Sindhi roots (he was born in Sidhpur, a small town in north Gujarat) to his family's move to Singapore (his father moved here first, and the family followed in late 1960) to his education (he went to Haig Boys' School, Broadrick Secondary School and Tanjong Katong Technical School before getting a degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles) to his stint in the family business (he is a Sindhi, after all) to his Harry's life (buy the book from any major bookstore if you want to know more).
It is also an embodiment of Mr Mulani's outlook on how human beings mature. 'As we get older, we start to reinvent ourselves,' he says, adding that he has started taking deeper looks at life and how it pans out eventually. 'I'm reading Freedom At Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre... it talks about some very crucial events that affected the lives of many people,' he says. It is a hint that, having just turned 50, this man has started looking beyond his corporate achievements so far.
He has become much more appreciative of what life has given him. He speaks about the roller-coaster ride he has endured in his professional life - the financial crisis in 1997 hit him hard and he fought hard to stave off bankruptcy - without embarrassment or rancour. In fact, the dedication in his book is a glowing tribute to Singapore and he writes about the growth of his chain of bars: 'Harry's is riding on the coattails of Singapore.'
He has become much more aware of his health. He plays squash twice a week and runs regularly on the treadmill. You get a notion of how seriously this trim man takes his fitness pursuits when he tells you, with well deserved pride, that he can run 6.6km in 40 minutes.
And he has become much more protective of his personal life. He refuses to give us a photograph of himself with his wife Rita (she is part of the Harry's Holdings family, looking after the Gymboree playschool business in Singapore and Malaysia) and their daughters Drishti, 21, and Virti, 17. He even requests that we don't meander in that direction in our conversation, but relents when promised we wouldn't get too personal.
He is however willing to share more about his plans for Harry's Holdings. Having grown the brand from bars to restaurants (five Mirchi outlets and Marrakesh) and even nightclubs (The Rupee Room and Bollywood And Beyond), he has taken the company public - it is currently listed on the Phillip Securities OTC Capital market but Mr Mulani wants to have it listed on the Singapore Exchange's Catalist board by the first half of this year.
Mr Mulani's latest corporate move is into the hotel trade, setting up a boutique hotel called The Club in Singapore's Chinatown area. It is a branch of the business he is keen on growing overseas too, with India being the first port of call.
When I tell him about my recent trip to Kerala and the houseboat industry that is booming there ' over 1,000 houseboats ply the placid backwaters of Allepey, giving tourists a taste of the laidback lifestyle that permeates that region ' his eyes sharpen their focus. Sitting up, he turns the tables on me. Suddenly, he is the interviewer and I am the interviewee as he asks me about the place and the type of tourist traffic it attracts.
This businessman can sniff out opportunity from miles, even countries, away. That flash of business acumen was probably what made him start on this Harry's journey. Much has been written about how Mr Mulani used to patronise Harry's Bar at Boat Quay and how, when he found out the owners were thinking of selling it, he bought the place. All very romantic and the stuff of feel-good stories. But let's get real here... how often do regulars buy their favourite bar when it's about to go out of business'
That business acumen also added a refreshing touch to Mr Mulani's book: Every copy entitles you to one bottle of Harry's Premium Lager. While that sounds like great value for a book that costs $25 before GST, the truth of the matter is this: How many of us would go all the way to a Harry's outlet, show the book, claim the free beer... and walk away after draining just one bottle of beer'
That's why I think there's more to Mr Mulani's habit of heading anywhere but a Harry's bar when he feels like having a drink. Having had the pleasure of meeting the man, and getting a feel of his business smarts, I'm convinced he's using that time to suss out the competition... and probably figure out how he can spread the Harry's mojo even further. -tabla!
Bookmark and Share
Saturday, April 17, 2010
PM lee ask sg guys to come back but they dont want do one month of reservist how ?
CHICAGO - TAKING his cue from the adage 'a picture speaks a thousand words', visiting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday used a 20-photo slide show to tell Singaporeans based here just what they have been missing at home.
An audible 'wow' was heard in the audience of about 150 Singaporeans when the slide show paused at a dazzling photo of the Formula One circuit at night, where the illuminated race tracks shimmered like mercury against a backdrop of imposing buildings.
The other photos - depicting the integrated resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa, new shopping malls in Orchard Road and designer HDB projects - similarly impressed the crowd of mostly students and young professionals.
'Many things have been happening in Singapore the last couple of years,' said Mr Lee, looking relaxed on the final day of a six-day visit to the United States.
'So I wanted to give you a slide show of some of the 'happening' things which have been going on, and give you a feel of what Singapore is like. Maybe you'll feel some nostalgia and homesickness, and you'll come back and visit.'
In many ways, the glitzy sideshow complemented the good news he shared with them: Singapore's economy is roaring again.
Read the full story in The Sunday Times.
chinhon@sph.com.sg
An audible 'wow' was heard in the audience of about 150 Singaporeans when the slide show paused at a dazzling photo of the Formula One circuit at night, where the illuminated race tracks shimmered like mercury against a backdrop of imposing buildings.
The other photos - depicting the integrated resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa, new shopping malls in Orchard Road and designer HDB projects - similarly impressed the crowd of mostly students and young professionals.
'Many things have been happening in Singapore the last couple of years,' said Mr Lee, looking relaxed on the final day of a six-day visit to the United States.
'So I wanted to give you a slide show of some of the 'happening' things which have been going on, and give you a feel of what Singapore is like. Maybe you'll feel some nostalgia and homesickness, and you'll come back and visit.'
In many ways, the glitzy sideshow complemented the good news he shared with them: Singapore's economy is roaring again.
Read the full story in The Sunday Times.
chinhon@sph.com.sg
FT who never serve NS complain we dislike them
Food court encounter leaves bitter taste in mouth
Letter from Jia Yangyang
09:10 PM Apr 15, 2010
I AM writing in as a junior college student, but also as a foreigner who has meaningfully spent his life in Singapore for more than three years, and as a young adult who is ready to enter society and take on corresponding social responsibilities.
What happened to my friends and I could indeed be deemed a small incident but it nevertheless it got me thinking.
On the evening of April 12, I has having dinner with some friends at Bishan Junction 8 food court in Bishan.
A mother and her young daughter sat across from me and put their bulky belongings on the empty seat next to them. My friend politely asked the mother if the latter could remove her belongings so that she (my friend) could sit across from me. The mother refused to do so outright. My friend went to find another seat.
The mother, however, went on to tell her daughter that foreign students like us lack basic courtesy.
It appears that she thought my friends and I are Indonesian Chinese. She spoke loudly about how impolite we are and how we feel elitist.
What worries me is the way she "taught" her daughter. The mother held such a firm belief that foreign students are ungrateful, impolite, elitist and that they do not understand English that well. The young girl seemed to accept whatever her mother was saying - right in front of me.
Another friend of mine later came by and the mother refused the same request again. Again, she made similar comments.
My friends and I refrained from defending ourselves because that would have potentially led to a meaningless quarrel and damaged our school's image.
However, this does not mean we feel such behaviour on her part is acceptable. We soon finished dinner, and one of my friends broke into tears.
As a foreign student (on scholarship) in Singapore, I know that asking people to accept us naturally is very difficult.
I also believe that, with mutual trust, we can build friendship and understanding as most of us have done with our classmates, teachers, guardians and the countless number of people who have offered care and help.
I sincerely hope that what we encountered is an isolated case, otherwise the efforts of so many people can easily go to waste.
Unity and tolerance are what made Singapore a great country and I would like to contribute to it with all I have.
I am an ordinary student and there is nothing elitist about me at all.
The mother had, just by looking at our uniforms, talked about our arrogance and lack of etiquette as if she knew us personally.
What I think is essential in building strong bonds among the people in Singapore is social awareness.
Adults, especially parents, should be mature and free from prejudice. What they should pass on to their children are responsibility, tolerance and, above all, a caring heart.
The writer is a student at Raffles Institution - Boardin
Letter from Jia Yangyang
09:10 PM Apr 15, 2010
I AM writing in as a junior college student, but also as a foreigner who has meaningfully spent his life in Singapore for more than three years, and as a young adult who is ready to enter society and take on corresponding social responsibilities.
What happened to my friends and I could indeed be deemed a small incident but it nevertheless it got me thinking.
On the evening of April 12, I has having dinner with some friends at Bishan Junction 8 food court in Bishan.
A mother and her young daughter sat across from me and put their bulky belongings on the empty seat next to them. My friend politely asked the mother if the latter could remove her belongings so that she (my friend) could sit across from me. The mother refused to do so outright. My friend went to find another seat.
The mother, however, went on to tell her daughter that foreign students like us lack basic courtesy.
It appears that she thought my friends and I are Indonesian Chinese. She spoke loudly about how impolite we are and how we feel elitist.
What worries me is the way she "taught" her daughter. The mother held such a firm belief that foreign students are ungrateful, impolite, elitist and that they do not understand English that well. The young girl seemed to accept whatever her mother was saying - right in front of me.
Another friend of mine later came by and the mother refused the same request again. Again, she made similar comments.
My friends and I refrained from defending ourselves because that would have potentially led to a meaningless quarrel and damaged our school's image.
However, this does not mean we feel such behaviour on her part is acceptable. We soon finished dinner, and one of my friends broke into tears.
As a foreign student (on scholarship) in Singapore, I know that asking people to accept us naturally is very difficult.
I also believe that, with mutual trust, we can build friendship and understanding as most of us have done with our classmates, teachers, guardians and the countless number of people who have offered care and help.
I sincerely hope that what we encountered is an isolated case, otherwise the efforts of so many people can easily go to waste.
Unity and tolerance are what made Singapore a great country and I would like to contribute to it with all I have.
I am an ordinary student and there is nothing elitist about me at all.
The mother had, just by looking at our uniforms, talked about our arrogance and lack of etiquette as if she knew us personally.
What I think is essential in building strong bonds among the people in Singapore is social awareness.
Adults, especially parents, should be mature and free from prejudice. What they should pass on to their children are responsibility, tolerance and, above all, a caring heart.
The writer is a student at Raffles Institution - Boardin
indian FT work in shenton but local sg guys slave away in 4 camps in tekong
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Apr 13, 2010
MBFC part of next growth era
By Joyce Teo
SINGAPORE is helping to shape a new era in Asian finance, thanks to its well-regulated but business-friendly financial regime, said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Tuesday.
And, as a 'work, live and play' destination, the $4 billion Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) is poised to support Singapore in its next era of growth, he said at the topping-out ceremony for MBFC's 50-storey Tower Two.
'Asian finance is back to growth, and Singapore is seeing enhanced growth as a gateway to the area,' he added.
MBFC, being developed in a joint venture comprising Cheung Kong (Holdings), Hongkong Land and Keppel Land, has attracted key tenants like Barclays Capital and Standard Chartered Bank.
Said CBRE executive director (office services) Moray Armstrong: 'In the long term, the uplifted quality of the office stock in Singapore will be an important platform for the city's ongoing development as a major global financial centre.'
Also, the office development opportunities at Marina Bay beyond MBFC will place Singapore in a highly competitive position, he said. 'There are few major global cities which have such a rich reservoir of prime developable land directly adjacent to the existing CBD,' he added
Apr 13, 2010
MBFC part of next growth era
By Joyce Teo
SINGAPORE is helping to shape a new era in Asian finance, thanks to its well-regulated but business-friendly financial regime, said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Tuesday.
And, as a 'work, live and play' destination, the $4 billion Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) is poised to support Singapore in its next era of growth, he said at the topping-out ceremony for MBFC's 50-storey Tower Two.
'Asian finance is back to growth, and Singapore is seeing enhanced growth as a gateway to the area,' he added.
MBFC, being developed in a joint venture comprising Cheung Kong (Holdings), Hongkong Land and Keppel Land, has attracted key tenants like Barclays Capital and Standard Chartered Bank.
Said CBRE executive director (office services) Moray Armstrong: 'In the long term, the uplifted quality of the office stock in Singapore will be an important platform for the city's ongoing development as a major global financial centre.'
Also, the office development opportunities at Marina Bay beyond MBFC will place Singapore in a highly competitive position, he said. 'There are few major global cities which have such a rich reservoir of prime developable land directly adjacent to the existing CBD,' he added
local males die like flies in NS while FT get our jobs
A FULL-TIME police national serviceman died of heat stroke two days after an IPPT trial at the parade square of the Home Team Academy, a coroner's court heard.
Mr Roslan Saharo, 18, had complained of having a fever to two squad-mates on the day of the 2.4km run on May 13, 2008.
But he did not tell the squad's field instructor that he was unwell, and carried on running.
At an inquiry into his death, the court heard that trainees were supposed to run three to four rounds around the parade square.
During the run, two squad-mates noticed Mr Roslan - who weighed 93kg - to be unwell but he indicated that he was fine and continued running.
Subsequently, another trainee saw him run diagonally towards a block and collapse on a sheltered pavement.
Mr Roslan picked himself up and continued, but but fell down again after a few steps.
When the field instructor realised what had happened, he ran over to Mr Roslan who threw up twice.
He received medical attention at the clinic but when he became restless and disoriented, he was taken to National University Hospital.
He remained in intensive care and died two days later of heat stroke which caused multiple-organ failure and left him brain dead.
In recording a verdict of misadventure on his death, State Coroner Victor Yeo said it was an unfortunate case where his death could have been avoided had he reported first, to his instructor.
He also urged all trainees to take good care of themselves and their fellow squad-mates during training, and to keep a lookout for one another.
Mr Roslan Saharo, 18, had complained of having a fever to two squad-mates on the day of the 2.4km run on May 13, 2008.
But he did not tell the squad's field instructor that he was unwell, and carried on running.
At an inquiry into his death, the court heard that trainees were supposed to run three to four rounds around the parade square.
During the run, two squad-mates noticed Mr Roslan - who weighed 93kg - to be unwell but he indicated that he was fine and continued running.
Subsequently, another trainee saw him run diagonally towards a block and collapse on a sheltered pavement.
Mr Roslan picked himself up and continued, but but fell down again after a few steps.
When the field instructor realised what had happened, he ran over to Mr Roslan who threw up twice.
He received medical attention at the clinic but when he became restless and disoriented, he was taken to National University Hospital.
He remained in intensive care and died two days later of heat stroke which caused multiple-organ failure and left him brain dead.
In recording a verdict of misadventure on his death, State Coroner Victor Yeo said it was an unfortunate case where his death could have been avoided had he reported first, to his instructor.
He also urged all trainees to take good care of themselves and their fellow squad-mates during training, and to keep a lookout for one another.
lky filling sg with rubbish who can accept NS
SINGAPORE must not shy away from embracing new, highly educated migrants, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said yesterday.
Re-stating his view on the issue, he said Singapore would continue to need overseas talent to drive its economic dynamo.
Pointing to the first quarter growth of 13.1 per cent and revised government projections of 7 per cent to 9 per cent growth for the year, he said this was 'a big turnaround from our most difficult period in early 2009'.
With the outlook for the global economy now brighter, sustaining Singapore's long-term prospects meant the country needed to grow as an attractive hub for international trade, investment and talent.
'That was how we grew from a fishing village to a trading post under the British, and now a vibrant metropolis,' he said. 'We benefited from being open to immigrants from around the world, especially China, India and the region.'
He said while first-generation migrants might find it difficult to take on local habits and accents, their families would be naturalised.
Read the full story in The Sunday Times.
lyuexin@sph.com.sg
Re-stating his view on the issue, he said Singapore would continue to need overseas talent to drive its economic dynamo.
Pointing to the first quarter growth of 13.1 per cent and revised government projections of 7 per cent to 9 per cent growth for the year, he said this was 'a big turnaround from our most difficult period in early 2009'.
With the outlook for the global economy now brighter, sustaining Singapore's long-term prospects meant the country needed to grow as an attractive hub for international trade, investment and talent.
'That was how we grew from a fishing village to a trading post under the British, and now a vibrant metropolis,' he said. 'We benefited from being open to immigrants from around the world, especially China, India and the region.'
He said while first-generation migrants might find it difficult to take on local habits and accents, their families would be naturalised.
Read the full story in The Sunday Times.
lyuexin@sph.com.sg
PM lee con by indian who wont come back do NS
bart12
Joined: 27 Dec 2004
Posts: 246
PostPosted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:26 am Post subject: MM Lee: SGP need more educated immigrants!! Reply with quote
S’pore needs more educated immigrants to make country dynamic, says MM Lee
Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, April 18
[S’pore needs more educated immigrants to make country dynamic, says MM Lee] S’pore needs more educated immigrants to make country dynamic, says MM Lee
SINGAPORE : Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has reiterated the need for Singapore to attract more educated immigrants.
Speaking at the Indian New Year celebrations in Little India on Saturday, Mr Lee said Singaporeans must recognise that with a declining population, the country needs such people, including those who have studied or worked in the US and Europe.
With the economy in a buoyant mood after the government upgraded its growth forecast for the year, Mr Lee said Singapore needs to grow as an attractive hub for international trade, investment and talent to sustain long—term growth.
"We benefited from being open to immigrants from around the world, especially China, India and the region. Throughout history, Singapore has welcomed migrants. When I first took office, we had 62,000 babies every year from a population of 2 million. Today, Singapore citizens produce only 32,000 babies in a year when we should have 60,000 just to replace our population," said MM Lee.
Little India is a glowing example of how early immigrants have flourished and taken root in the country.
Mr Lee said the government understands the concerns of Singaporeans over new immigrants and foreign workers. So it has taken steps to moderate the inflow and widen the differentiation between citizens and non—citizens.
Having educated immigrants here, said Mr Lee, makes Singapore more competitive and dynamic.
"The majority of the new PRs and citizens are skilled workers and professionals in finance, IT and R&D. They bring new skills, global connections and a strong drive to create better lives for their families," said Mr Lee.
Mr Lee gave an example of how one immigrant is making a difference.
"Shyam Srinivasan came from Chennai at age 14, and went to Geylang Methodist Secondary School and Victoria Junior College. He took up citizenship and obtained a teaching scholarship from the Public Service Commission," said the Minister Mentor.
"Last year, he graduated top of his class in Physics at Oxford University. He is now doing his Masters in Applied Physics at Columbia University. He will come back and complete his NS. He will educate and inspire the next generation of Singaporeans," he said.
Their presence has also helped to shape the Singapore landscape.
Mr Lee cited how many Indian temples today have been refurbished to look "elegant" and "colourful".
"Our immigration policies have brought in better educated and wealthy Indians who have made that qualitative difference to our lives. Their support of these temples has resulted in this transformation, reflecting the transformation that is taking place throughout Singapore," said Mr Lee.
Mr Lee said the challenge is to integrate newcomers into Singapore society and an event like this Indian New Year Celebration is a good example of how integration can be done.
The event brings together different communities, not just among the different Indian ethnic groups, but also Singaporeans of all races. — CNA /l
Joined: 27 Dec 2004
Posts: 246
PostPosted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:26 am Post subject: MM Lee: SGP need more educated immigrants!! Reply with quote
S’pore needs more educated immigrants to make country dynamic, says MM Lee
Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, April 18
[S’pore needs more educated immigrants to make country dynamic, says MM Lee] S’pore needs more educated immigrants to make country dynamic, says MM Lee
SINGAPORE : Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has reiterated the need for Singapore to attract more educated immigrants.
Speaking at the Indian New Year celebrations in Little India on Saturday, Mr Lee said Singaporeans must recognise that with a declining population, the country needs such people, including those who have studied or worked in the US and Europe.
With the economy in a buoyant mood after the government upgraded its growth forecast for the year, Mr Lee said Singapore needs to grow as an attractive hub for international trade, investment and talent to sustain long—term growth.
"We benefited from being open to immigrants from around the world, especially China, India and the region. Throughout history, Singapore has welcomed migrants. When I first took office, we had 62,000 babies every year from a population of 2 million. Today, Singapore citizens produce only 32,000 babies in a year when we should have 60,000 just to replace our population," said MM Lee.
Little India is a glowing example of how early immigrants have flourished and taken root in the country.
Mr Lee said the government understands the concerns of Singaporeans over new immigrants and foreign workers. So it has taken steps to moderate the inflow and widen the differentiation between citizens and non—citizens.
Having educated immigrants here, said Mr Lee, makes Singapore more competitive and dynamic.
"The majority of the new PRs and citizens are skilled workers and professionals in finance, IT and R&D. They bring new skills, global connections and a strong drive to create better lives for their families," said Mr Lee.
Mr Lee gave an example of how one immigrant is making a difference.
"Shyam Srinivasan came from Chennai at age 14, and went to Geylang Methodist Secondary School and Victoria Junior College. He took up citizenship and obtained a teaching scholarship from the Public Service Commission," said the Minister Mentor.
"Last year, he graduated top of his class in Physics at Oxford University. He is now doing his Masters in Applied Physics at Columbia University. He will come back and complete his NS. He will educate and inspire the next generation of Singaporeans," he said.
Their presence has also helped to shape the Singapore landscape.
Mr Lee cited how many Indian temples today have been refurbished to look "elegant" and "colourful".
"Our immigration policies have brought in better educated and wealthy Indians who have made that qualitative difference to our lives. Their support of these temples has resulted in this transformation, reflecting the transformation that is taking place throughout Singapore," said Mr Lee.
Mr Lee said the challenge is to integrate newcomers into Singapore society and an event like this Indian New Year Celebration is a good example of how integration can be done.
The event brings together different communities, not just among the different Indian ethnic groups, but also Singaporeans of all races. — CNA /l
Lee say talents become sg citizens provided they serve NS = stupid idea !
PM Lee: "We've got to be extraordinary"
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was interviewed by Emmy award-winning journalist Charlie Rose.
In the hour-long interview, PM Lee voiced his views on a number of issues ranging from the Nuclear Security Summit, US President Obama's global leadership and the US relationship with Asia and Singapore.
PM Lee was asked to share his philosophy on Singapore's future relevance.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Charlie Rose: Tell me what your philosophy is for the relevance and the future of Singapore.
PM Lee: If we want to make a living for ourselves, we've got to be extraordinary. There are any number of cities with a million, two million people in them, hundreds in Asia, hundreds more worldwide.
Why is Singapore different? It's because the people make it so, and the people, meaning our own people and the talent we have within Singapore and the talent we can attract to Singapore and make members of our extended family who can help us to prosper and help us to make --
Charlie Rose: What do you consider members of the extended family?
PM Lee: People who come to Singapore and work, people who come to Singapore and strike roots, people who come and eventually become citizens.
Charlie Rose: Is Singapore's future as bright or brighter today than it was five years ago
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was interviewed by Emmy award-winning journalist Charlie Rose.
In the hour-long interview, PM Lee voiced his views on a number of issues ranging from the Nuclear Security Summit, US President Obama's global leadership and the US relationship with Asia and Singapore.
PM Lee was asked to share his philosophy on Singapore's future relevance.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Charlie Rose: Tell me what your philosophy is for the relevance and the future of Singapore.
PM Lee: If we want to make a living for ourselves, we've got to be extraordinary. There are any number of cities with a million, two million people in them, hundreds in Asia, hundreds more worldwide.
Why is Singapore different? It's because the people make it so, and the people, meaning our own people and the talent we have within Singapore and the talent we can attract to Singapore and make members of our extended family who can help us to prosper and help us to make --
Charlie Rose: What do you consider members of the extended family?
PM Lee: People who come to Singapore and work, people who come to Singapore and strike roots, people who come and eventually become citizens.
Charlie Rose: Is Singapore's future as bright or brighter today than it was five years ago
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
boss say sg NS slaves = blanga workers
'In our Penal Code, only the woman is said to have modesty,' he said, noting that common showers in military camps and swimming pools had no partitions in the past.
=============
Apr 15, 2010
Cameras in dorm toilet spark outcry
Move to curb water wastage an invasion of privacy, say workers, welfare advocates
By Teh Joo Lin & Luke Vijay
PLAINLY WRONG
'This is very wrong morally. Would we put cameras in public toilets to stop people from wasting water? It is an affront to human dignity.'
Ms Bridget Tan, welfare group Home's president
A Lockson Hydraulics spokesman says the cameras installed on the ceiling above the toilet cubicles (above) have only a view of the shower heads and wash basins (second picture). -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
View more photos
IT IS common for foreign worker dormitory operators to install closed-circuit television cameras at the entrances to their buildings and in other common areas, to monitor any shenanigans involving the residents.
But one operator in Jurong West has gone a step further and installed two cameras on the ceiling of the common toilet, which houses shower and toilet stalls, urinals, and a row of wash basins.
Lockson Hydraulics, which runs the dormitory and is also a scaffolding company, said the cameras - part of a network of 24 electronic eyes on the premises - were put up to deter water wastage after its water bills soared and repeated calls to its residents to save water went unheeded.
But the presence of the cameras has raised the ire of some workers and welfare groups, who complain that the invasion of workers' privacy has gone too far.
A 37-year-old Indian national, who recently moved out of the dormitory to stay elsewhere, said: 'We cannot accept this. It's the toilet, how can you put cameras? We're all men living together, but this is ridiculous.'
A spokesman for Lockson, a 35-year-old company, whose director is Mr Kang Yee Yin, 38, said the cameras were installed a few months ago, after which the monthly water bill dropped by about 20 per cent, although he did not give exact figures.
He added that these two cameras view only the shower heads and the wash basins in the toilet.
'They are able to see only the top of the showers, where the water comes out from the sprinklers. At the most, you can see only part of the workers' backs. They are not there to capture the men bathing,' he said.
The Straits Times was shown the camera feed as proof.
The spokesman claimed that the cameras, which cannot be rotated, have been effective in reducing the use of water: 'Before this, we put up notices not to waste water, but they were ignored.'
Although the water is dispensed through pressure taps to reduce wastage, workers got around this by using wires to keep the water running.
He said: 'It's safe to say that for workers' dormitories, they (workers) don't save water for you.'
About 100 workers, some of whom are Lockson employees, stay in the dormitory and all of them use that toilet.
Foreign worker welfare advocates blasted the rationale behind installing the toilet cameras.
Ms Bridget Tan, president of the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home), said: 'This is very wrong morally. Would we put cameras in public toilets to stop people from wasting water? It's an affront to human dignity.'
MP Halimah Yacob, who often speaks up on foreign worker issues, said: 'Cameras there are an invasion of privacy. It doesn't matter where they are pointing, they shouldn't be there in the first place.'
Agreeing, a Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) spokesman said: 'Even if the cameras do not show the workers showering or using the toilet, the men may believe they're being observed and feel embarrassed or harassed. There are other ways to ensure water isn't wasted. One expects to be assured of privacy in the toilet and shower stall.'
The move by Lockson also drew surprise from other dormitory managers, who said this was the first time they had heard of such a practice.
One said it was 'common sense' that such a move was unacceptable. He said: 'It's just like in a department store... Can you put cameras inside the changing room? Of course not.'
Cameras are installed inside dormitories for 'everyone's security', said Mr Simon Lee, executive director of the Singapore Contractors Association.
He said there was no regulation regarding cameras in dorms, though operators are usually asked to install them on perimeter fencing and in communal areas such as dining halls.
Despite the moral outcry, no law appears to have been flouted.
Noting the lack of a general privacy law in Singapore, lawyer Bryan Tan of Keystone Law Corporation said building owners have the right to put up cameras on their premises - even in toilets.
The move does not run afoul of laws against peeping Toms as the dormitory toilet is only for men, pointed out lawyer Amolat Singh.
'In our Penal Code, only the woman is said to have modesty,' he said, noting that common showers in military camps and swimming pools had no partitions in the past.
'That said, I think the rationale for putting in the cameras is questionable.
=============
Apr 15, 2010
Cameras in dorm toilet spark outcry
Move to curb water wastage an invasion of privacy, say workers, welfare advocates
By Teh Joo Lin & Luke Vijay
PLAINLY WRONG
'This is very wrong morally. Would we put cameras in public toilets to stop people from wasting water? It is an affront to human dignity.'
Ms Bridget Tan, welfare group Home's president
A Lockson Hydraulics spokesman says the cameras installed on the ceiling above the toilet cubicles (above) have only a view of the shower heads and wash basins (second picture). -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
View more photos
IT IS common for foreign worker dormitory operators to install closed-circuit television cameras at the entrances to their buildings and in other common areas, to monitor any shenanigans involving the residents.
But one operator in Jurong West has gone a step further and installed two cameras on the ceiling of the common toilet, which houses shower and toilet stalls, urinals, and a row of wash basins.
Lockson Hydraulics, which runs the dormitory and is also a scaffolding company, said the cameras - part of a network of 24 electronic eyes on the premises - were put up to deter water wastage after its water bills soared and repeated calls to its residents to save water went unheeded.
But the presence of the cameras has raised the ire of some workers and welfare groups, who complain that the invasion of workers' privacy has gone too far.
A 37-year-old Indian national, who recently moved out of the dormitory to stay elsewhere, said: 'We cannot accept this. It's the toilet, how can you put cameras? We're all men living together, but this is ridiculous.'
A spokesman for Lockson, a 35-year-old company, whose director is Mr Kang Yee Yin, 38, said the cameras were installed a few months ago, after which the monthly water bill dropped by about 20 per cent, although he did not give exact figures.
He added that these two cameras view only the shower heads and the wash basins in the toilet.
'They are able to see only the top of the showers, where the water comes out from the sprinklers. At the most, you can see only part of the workers' backs. They are not there to capture the men bathing,' he said.
The Straits Times was shown the camera feed as proof.
The spokesman claimed that the cameras, which cannot be rotated, have been effective in reducing the use of water: 'Before this, we put up notices not to waste water, but they were ignored.'
Although the water is dispensed through pressure taps to reduce wastage, workers got around this by using wires to keep the water running.
He said: 'It's safe to say that for workers' dormitories, they (workers) don't save water for you.'
About 100 workers, some of whom are Lockson employees, stay in the dormitory and all of them use that toilet.
Foreign worker welfare advocates blasted the rationale behind installing the toilet cameras.
Ms Bridget Tan, president of the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home), said: 'This is very wrong morally. Would we put cameras in public toilets to stop people from wasting water? It's an affront to human dignity.'
MP Halimah Yacob, who often speaks up on foreign worker issues, said: 'Cameras there are an invasion of privacy. It doesn't matter where they are pointing, they shouldn't be there in the first place.'
Agreeing, a Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) spokesman said: 'Even if the cameras do not show the workers showering or using the toilet, the men may believe they're being observed and feel embarrassed or harassed. There are other ways to ensure water isn't wasted. One expects to be assured of privacy in the toilet and shower stall.'
The move by Lockson also drew surprise from other dormitory managers, who said this was the first time they had heard of such a practice.
One said it was 'common sense' that such a move was unacceptable. He said: 'It's just like in a department store... Can you put cameras inside the changing room? Of course not.'
Cameras are installed inside dormitories for 'everyone's security', said Mr Simon Lee, executive director of the Singapore Contractors Association.
He said there was no regulation regarding cameras in dorms, though operators are usually asked to install them on perimeter fencing and in communal areas such as dining halls.
Despite the moral outcry, no law appears to have been flouted.
Noting the lack of a general privacy law in Singapore, lawyer Bryan Tan of Keystone Law Corporation said building owners have the right to put up cameras on their premises - even in toilets.
The move does not run afoul of laws against peeping Toms as the dormitory toilet is only for men, pointed out lawyer Amolat Singh.
'In our Penal Code, only the woman is said to have modesty,' he said, noting that common showers in military camps and swimming pools had no partitions in the past.
'That said, I think the rationale for putting in the cameras is questionable.
Dr chee say that NS IS KILLING SG
Apr 15, 2010
PAP just as confrontational, replies Chee
MR PATRICK Tan's idea ('Confrontational model not ideal for S'pore', April 6) that my style of politics is a confrontational one not suited to Singapore is most ironic.
Let us check the facts: The People's Action Party (PAP) imprisoned its Barisan Sosialis opponents in the 1960s. This it did with the cooperation of the British colonial government, using the Internal Security Act - a law originally introduced by a Western democracy.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew uses imagery of knuckle-dusters on critics like writer Catherine Lim and meeting the late opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam in cul-de-sacs with hatchets. Such PAP actions and words are, apparently to Mr Tan, not confrontational politics.
But when I speak up and organise to claim back our rights of freedom of speech and assembly guaranteed under our Constitution, I am confrontational.
I agree it does not matter what system we adopt as long as it works for Singaporeans. The question is: Is the current arrangement working for Singaporeans?
With the exodus of Singaporeans leaving for other countries, we have a serious brain drain. Productivity is at an all-time low. Is Mr Tan sure the PAP system works for Singapore and enables us 'to achieve its best potential'?
Experts have repeatedly warned that without opening up the current system, Singapore will not be able to innovate and develop an entrepreneurial culture to compete with the rest of the world that is racing ahead.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology economics professor Huang Yasheng - an Asian - visited Singapore recently and pointed out that the 'entrepreneurial culture is about challenging the authorities, questioning the existing ways of doing businesses, moving away from the routines and norms. It's about the unconventional, rebellious and diverse'.
Yes, Mr Tan is right, let us not get bogged down by whether it is Western or Asian style of politics. Let us go with what works for Singapore and our future.
Right now, the PAP system of authoritarianism and top-down control looks decidedly obsolete for our future needs. It is time for change.
Chee Soon Juan (Dr)
Secretary-General
Singapore Democratic Party
PAP just as confrontational, replies Chee
MR PATRICK Tan's idea ('Confrontational model not ideal for S'pore', April 6) that my style of politics is a confrontational one not suited to Singapore is most ironic.
Let us check the facts: The People's Action Party (PAP) imprisoned its Barisan Sosialis opponents in the 1960s. This it did with the cooperation of the British colonial government, using the Internal Security Act - a law originally introduced by a Western democracy.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew uses imagery of knuckle-dusters on critics like writer Catherine Lim and meeting the late opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam in cul-de-sacs with hatchets. Such PAP actions and words are, apparently to Mr Tan, not confrontational politics.
But when I speak up and organise to claim back our rights of freedom of speech and assembly guaranteed under our Constitution, I am confrontational.
I agree it does not matter what system we adopt as long as it works for Singaporeans. The question is: Is the current arrangement working for Singaporeans?
With the exodus of Singaporeans leaving for other countries, we have a serious brain drain. Productivity is at an all-time low. Is Mr Tan sure the PAP system works for Singapore and enables us 'to achieve its best potential'?
Experts have repeatedly warned that without opening up the current system, Singapore will not be able to innovate and develop an entrepreneurial culture to compete with the rest of the world that is racing ahead.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology economics professor Huang Yasheng - an Asian - visited Singapore recently and pointed out that the 'entrepreneurial culture is about challenging the authorities, questioning the existing ways of doing businesses, moving away from the routines and norms. It's about the unconventional, rebellious and diverse'.
Yes, Mr Tan is right, let us not get bogged down by whether it is Western or Asian style of politics. Let us go with what works for Singapore and our future.
Right now, the PAP system of authoritarianism and top-down control looks decidedly obsolete for our future needs. It is time for change.
Chee Soon Juan (Dr)
Secretary-General
Singapore Democratic Party
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