Maha Bodhi's charity drive
Student dressed up as Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, President Barack Obama, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, and even cartoon duo the Supermario Brothers took to the stage as part of Maha Bodhi School's Teachers' Day celebrations on Monday.
The event, held in conjunction with The New Paper's Be Yourself Day, was graced by President S R Nathan.
The president was presented with a cheque for $13,888 - money raised by the school's staff and students for the President's Challenge, an annual charity drive which has 37 beneficiaries.
The sum was raised over three days last week during a school-wide donation drive.
This is the fifth year that the Special Assistance Programme (SAP) school in Ubi has held a fundraising drive in conjunction with The New Paper's Be Yourself Day, which encourages students and staff to come to school dressed creatively.
'Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is my idol because he's smart and always helps people. I hope to become as clever as he is,' said Bronson Cheng, 10, who came in MM Lee's signature all-white outfit.
Said President Nathan: 'The 'be yourself' theme is important because it allows students to discover what their ambitions are, though the real message will probably sink in only later in life.'
TNP Be Yourself Day is into its eighth year and has raised more than $1 million for the President's Challenge to date.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
President on a Eating Contest! Me Faint!
Gods Grief!
Eating, Food Contest by Our HIGHEST statesman! Prataman!
Singapore's "Perfect Meal" has finally been served. It was created by the winning chef in Channel NewsAsia's reality TV programme, also titled The Perfect Meal, for some VIPs.
Singapore's President Nathan hosted 15 guests to the four-course meal, presented by chef Muhammad Haikal Johari.
Every dish had to be either inspired by, or a reinvention of, typical dishes that Singaporeans eat every day.
Najib Ali, guest, The Perfect Meal, said: "Every piece of chicken that I tasted was something that I'd never had in my mouth, for all the chicken rice I've eaten in my whole entire life."
Jenny Chua, guest, The Perfect Meal, said: "In the dessert, there were pieces of chillies - caramelised chillies, no doubt, but pieces of chillies. And then there's pandan flavour, there's chocolate flavour and done together in a very good combination."
Haikal's former foes in the competition became his allies for this final round.
The kitchen wars had seen six established chefs being given a fixed budget of S$200 and five hours to shop, cook and present a three-course meal each week.
But that was not their only challenge. They had to get to grips with unfamiliar surroundings, and tools, as well.
Muhammad Haikal Johari, winner, The Perfect Meal, said: "We chefs are always being intimidated by latest gadgets. But at the end of the day, all these gadgets are very helpful."
Chef Haikal has helmed his own restaurant in Bangkok for the last three years.
President Nathan said: "Haikal is prominent in Thailand and it's a reflection of how our people have made their mark on their own effort without too much support from locals."
Eating, Food Contest by Our HIGHEST statesman! Prataman!
Singapore's "Perfect Meal" has finally been served. It was created by the winning chef in Channel NewsAsia's reality TV programme, also titled The Perfect Meal, for some VIPs.
Singapore's President Nathan hosted 15 guests to the four-course meal, presented by chef Muhammad Haikal Johari.
Every dish had to be either inspired by, or a reinvention of, typical dishes that Singaporeans eat every day.
Najib Ali, guest, The Perfect Meal, said: "Every piece of chicken that I tasted was something that I'd never had in my mouth, for all the chicken rice I've eaten in my whole entire life."
Jenny Chua, guest, The Perfect Meal, said: "In the dessert, there were pieces of chillies - caramelised chillies, no doubt, but pieces of chillies. And then there's pandan flavour, there's chocolate flavour and done together in a very good combination."
Haikal's former foes in the competition became his allies for this final round.
The kitchen wars had seen six established chefs being given a fixed budget of S$200 and five hours to shop, cook and present a three-course meal each week.
But that was not their only challenge. They had to get to grips with unfamiliar surroundings, and tools, as well.
Muhammad Haikal Johari, winner, The Perfect Meal, said: "We chefs are always being intimidated by latest gadgets. But at the end of the day, all these gadgets are very helpful."
Chef Haikal has helmed his own restaurant in Bangkok for the last three years.
President Nathan said: "Haikal is prominent in Thailand and it's a reflection of how our people have made their mark on their own effort without too much support from locals."
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Prataman Meets China Envoys
Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, who is in Singapore on a four-day visit, called on President S R Nathan and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Tuesday.
Mr Wang called on Mr Nathan at the Istana, where the two leaders spoke of bilateral ties. This was followed by a call on Mr Lee.
Separately, the mayor of Tianjin Municipality Huang Xingguo called on Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Istana on Tuesday afternoon.
During the meeting, Mr Goh and Mr Huang took stock of the steady progress of the eco-city since their last meeting.
Mr Goh also affirmed the strong commitment and support of the Singapore government to make the eco-city project a success.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Indian Industry Core Group, led by the new president, Venu Srinivasan, also called on the senior minister at the Istana.
During the meeting, Mr Goh and members of the group exchanged views on the recent economic developments in India and Southeast Asia and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral economic ties.
Mr Wang called on Mr Nathan at the Istana, where the two leaders spoke of bilateral ties. This was followed by a call on Mr Lee.
Separately, the mayor of Tianjin Municipality Huang Xingguo called on Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Istana on Tuesday afternoon.
During the meeting, Mr Goh and Mr Huang took stock of the steady progress of the eco-city since their last meeting.
Mr Goh also affirmed the strong commitment and support of the Singapore government to make the eco-city project a success.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Indian Industry Core Group, led by the new president, Venu Srinivasan, also called on the senior minister at the Istana.
During the meeting, Mr Goh and members of the group exchanged views on the recent economic developments in India and Southeast Asia and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral economic ties.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Lets welcome Foreign Talents
Foreign Talent lawyers and doctors!!!
While PAP government welcomes Foreign Talent in respective fields, law and medicine. They are unknowingly creating stress and unhappiness. We need to ensure our standard
Singapore Won’t ‘Turn Back,’ Will License New Foreign Law Firms
Singapore, which allowed six foreign law firms to practice local corporate law in December, will award more licenses as soon as next year if local economic conditions permit it, Law Minister K. Shanmugam said.
“The direction has been set and we don’t intend to turn back,” he said in an interview. The government will review the progress of its liberalization program in the first six months of 2010 and could award more licenses then if the market can “digest them,” he said.
Clifford Chance LLP and the five other new licensees have increased the lawyers they have in Singapore by 20 percent from last year, Shanmugam said. With a collapse in corporate finance work, U.S. and U.K. firms have been expanding their arbitration and India practices in Singapore. The Southeast Asian city state hopes more lawyers will strengthen its financial sector.
“If you look at Hong Kong, New York, London, it’s no coincidence that they’re all leading financial industry centers,” Shanmugam, 50, said. “Legal services really grew to support the financial services industry.”
London-based firms have expanded in Singapore even as they’ve cut jobs at home, with Clifford Chance setting up a dispute resolution practice and raising the number of lawyers in its Singapore office to 50 from 38. Allen & Overy LLP hired all 10 lawyers from Singapore firm Venture Law LLC, bringing its total to 44.
London-based Norton Rose LLP hired Wilson Ang from Linklaters LLP’s Hong Kong office to set up a regulatory practice in Singapore, where it has 55 lawyers. That will expand next year when it absorbs the Singapore office of Sydney-based Deacons Australia.
“We see Singapore as one of the most important hubs connecting a number of places from India to Australia and from Tokyo through to Jakarta, and also to Shanghai and Sydney,” said Norton Rose’s Chief Executive Officer Peter Martyr.
As of last month there were 95 foreign law firms with offices in Singapore, a 13 percent increase from a year earlier, according to the Law Ministry. That’s more than the 66 such firms in Hong Kong, according to the Chinese city’s Law Society. The number of lawyers working for foreign firms in Singapore rose 12 percent to 757 in July from a year earlier, while there were 1,100 foreign lawyers in Hong Kong.
Singapore’s liberalization aims to develop the city as a top arbitration center, an area where Hong Kong “has been ahead of us,” Shanmugam said. The Southeast Asian city offers tax incentives for growth in arbitration work, set up a hearing facility and attracted institutions like the American Arbitration Association.
State Policy
“You’ve got a very focused, coherent, state policy designed to improve the prospects of Singapore becoming a regional arbitration hub,” said Doug Peel, a partner at New York-based White & Case LLP’s Singapore office. “This has helped us decide to move an international arbitrator to Singapore, who will lead the development of the practice.”
London-based Herbert Smith LLP and Los Angeles-based Latham & Watkins LLP were the other successful applicants from the 20 firms who bid for a license to practice corporate law and employ locally qualified lawyers in Singapore on Sept. 15, the day Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy.
Still, the firms made commitments to double their revenue, staffing and profits in Singapore in five years, and Shanmugam, said in the Aug. 7 interview that the government “must assume they’ll do their very best.”
Capital markets work restarted about two and a half months ago after stopping in September, with particular pent-up demand in India following the elections there, according to Mark Nelson, Singapore managing partner of Latham & Watkins. Foreign firms are banned from practicing in India.
DLA Piper LLP, the world’s biggest law firm by headcount with 3,600 attorneys and 67 offices, was “very disappointed” not to get a Singapore license last year, though it may be difficult to meet commitments made then, said Martin David, its Singapore managing partner.
Fee pressures are intense, with a U.K. firm saying that it was discounting by 20 percent and one of the largest Singapore firms saying a competitor was offering 75 percent discounts.
Sustainable Recovery?
“The market’s slowly coming back but whether that’s sustainable remains to be seen,” David said, adding that DLA plans to apply for a Singapore license as soon as possible.
Law firms said they have benefited from government property tax rebates and cash handouts to lower wage costs. Singapore’s economy is recovering after shrinking 6.5 percent in the first half of 2009 from a year earlier, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Aug. 9.
Singapore will eventually be as open as Hong Kong where all foreign firms are able to practice local law, said David Longstaff, a partner at Jones Day’s Singapore office. The economic crisis may slow the pace of liberalization, he said.
Singapore “isn’t as big a legal market as Hong Kong or London but there’s no question that it’s already the legal center of Southeast Asia and just needs to build on that,” Longstaff said. The Washington-based firm applied for a license, and would do so again, he said.
“I think this is just the beginning.”
****************************************************
Doctors from abroad form growing pool in Singapore
Tue, Aug 18, 2009
The Straits Times
By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent
MORE foreign-trained doctors are choosing to work in Singapore as hospitals step up recruitment to cope with the growing health-care demands of an ageing population.
In the past three years, more than half of new doctors here have come from overseas, including 1,000 foreign-trained doctors who have returned to Singapore after completing their studies.
Some hospitals are also recruiting overseas. KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), for example, has hired 15 doctors through six recruitment exercises in Britain, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines since 2007.
While PAP government welcomes Foreign Talent in respective fields, law and medicine. They are unknowingly creating stress and unhappiness. We need to ensure our standard
Singapore Won’t ‘Turn Back,’ Will License New Foreign Law Firms
Singapore, which allowed six foreign law firms to practice local corporate law in December, will award more licenses as soon as next year if local economic conditions permit it, Law Minister K. Shanmugam said.
“The direction has been set and we don’t intend to turn back,” he said in an interview. The government will review the progress of its liberalization program in the first six months of 2010 and could award more licenses then if the market can “digest them,” he said.
Clifford Chance LLP and the five other new licensees have increased the lawyers they have in Singapore by 20 percent from last year, Shanmugam said. With a collapse in corporate finance work, U.S. and U.K. firms have been expanding their arbitration and India practices in Singapore. The Southeast Asian city state hopes more lawyers will strengthen its financial sector.
“If you look at Hong Kong, New York, London, it’s no coincidence that they’re all leading financial industry centers,” Shanmugam, 50, said. “Legal services really grew to support the financial services industry.”
London-based firms have expanded in Singapore even as they’ve cut jobs at home, with Clifford Chance setting up a dispute resolution practice and raising the number of lawyers in its Singapore office to 50 from 38. Allen & Overy LLP hired all 10 lawyers from Singapore firm Venture Law LLC, bringing its total to 44.
London-based Norton Rose LLP hired Wilson Ang from Linklaters LLP’s Hong Kong office to set up a regulatory practice in Singapore, where it has 55 lawyers. That will expand next year when it absorbs the Singapore office of Sydney-based Deacons Australia.
“We see Singapore as one of the most important hubs connecting a number of places from India to Australia and from Tokyo through to Jakarta, and also to Shanghai and Sydney,” said Norton Rose’s Chief Executive Officer Peter Martyr.
As of last month there were 95 foreign law firms with offices in Singapore, a 13 percent increase from a year earlier, according to the Law Ministry. That’s more than the 66 such firms in Hong Kong, according to the Chinese city’s Law Society. The number of lawyers working for foreign firms in Singapore rose 12 percent to 757 in July from a year earlier, while there were 1,100 foreign lawyers in Hong Kong.
Singapore’s liberalization aims to develop the city as a top arbitration center, an area where Hong Kong “has been ahead of us,” Shanmugam said. The Southeast Asian city offers tax incentives for growth in arbitration work, set up a hearing facility and attracted institutions like the American Arbitration Association.
State Policy
“You’ve got a very focused, coherent, state policy designed to improve the prospects of Singapore becoming a regional arbitration hub,” said Doug Peel, a partner at New York-based White & Case LLP’s Singapore office. “This has helped us decide to move an international arbitrator to Singapore, who will lead the development of the practice.”
London-based Herbert Smith LLP and Los Angeles-based Latham & Watkins LLP were the other successful applicants from the 20 firms who bid for a license to practice corporate law and employ locally qualified lawyers in Singapore on Sept. 15, the day Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy.
Still, the firms made commitments to double their revenue, staffing and profits in Singapore in five years, and Shanmugam, said in the Aug. 7 interview that the government “must assume they’ll do their very best.”
Capital markets work restarted about two and a half months ago after stopping in September, with particular pent-up demand in India following the elections there, according to Mark Nelson, Singapore managing partner of Latham & Watkins. Foreign firms are banned from practicing in India.
DLA Piper LLP, the world’s biggest law firm by headcount with 3,600 attorneys and 67 offices, was “very disappointed” not to get a Singapore license last year, though it may be difficult to meet commitments made then, said Martin David, its Singapore managing partner.
Fee pressures are intense, with a U.K. firm saying that it was discounting by 20 percent and one of the largest Singapore firms saying a competitor was offering 75 percent discounts.
Sustainable Recovery?
“The market’s slowly coming back but whether that’s sustainable remains to be seen,” David said, adding that DLA plans to apply for a Singapore license as soon as possible.
Law firms said they have benefited from government property tax rebates and cash handouts to lower wage costs. Singapore’s economy is recovering after shrinking 6.5 percent in the first half of 2009 from a year earlier, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Aug. 9.
Singapore will eventually be as open as Hong Kong where all foreign firms are able to practice local law, said David Longstaff, a partner at Jones Day’s Singapore office. The economic crisis may slow the pace of liberalization, he said.
Singapore “isn’t as big a legal market as Hong Kong or London but there’s no question that it’s already the legal center of Southeast Asia and just needs to build on that,” Longstaff said. The Washington-based firm applied for a license, and would do so again, he said.
“I think this is just the beginning.”
****************************************************
Doctors from abroad form growing pool in Singapore
Tue, Aug 18, 2009
The Straits Times
By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent
MORE foreign-trained doctors are choosing to work in Singapore as hospitals step up recruitment to cope with the growing health-care demands of an ageing population.
In the past three years, more than half of new doctors here have come from overseas, including 1,000 foreign-trained doctors who have returned to Singapore after completing their studies.
Some hospitals are also recruiting overseas. KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), for example, has hired 15 doctors through six recruitment exercises in Britain, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines since 2007.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
SCHOLARS: Our Future, the rock and the light of Singapore
1 This year marks the 44th year of our independence. We are a young nation state, with less than half a century of existence as an independent nation. Over that short period, our people have built a modern nation where many opportunities are available to those willing to work hard. Singapore is also a home where people of many races and religions live together in harmony and look forward to a better future for themselves and their families.
2 Life has not always been like this. As a young nation, we had our fair share of tumultuous years – grappling with racial tensions, security threats and economic downturns. We overcame each and every crisis by staying united as a nation. It is during such difficult times that we demonstrated our resilience, adaptability and indomitable spirit.
3 The achievements and successes we celebrate today are also the result of the vision the founding leaders had for the nation, their courage in implementing changes and their passion in serving their fellow citizens.
4 We will continue to need visionary, brave and passionate leaders with the ability and the heart to build a successful and vibrant Singapore. That is the key purpose behind the award of the President’s Scholarship, the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the country. They are given to this year’s most outstanding young men and women from our schools. The award recipients are talented and passionate individuals who have excelled in both academic and non-academic achievements. They have also distinguished themselves as top students in their cohort through their leadership qualities, sound character and a commitment to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.
5 Selecting President’s Scholars is a highly rigorous process. Headed by the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, the President’s Scholarship Selection Board this year interviewed 15 talented and outstanding young men and women. From this year, all candidates being considered for the President’s Scholarships would be put through an Assessment Centre, where they would go through a series of exercises that presented challenges and scenarios related to public service work. The Assessment Centre exercises provided the Selection Board with a better all-rounded perspective of the candidates and added further rigour to the selection process for President’s Scholars.
6 I am happy to announce that this year, the President’s Scholarships are conferred on six outstanding young men and women. They are Miss Gan Su Yi, Miss Claire Soon Jing Min, Miss Tan Bao Jia, Mr Jonathan Au Yong Kok Kong, Mr Nicolas Tay Weizhe and Mr Alexander Joseph Woon Wei-Ming. Miss Gan will be reading Economics at University College London. Miss Soon will head for Oxford University to read History and join the Foreign Service when she returns. A PSC China Scholar, Miss Tan will be reading Economics at Peking University. Mr Au Yong, who is a concurrent holder of the Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship, will be reading Ethics, Politics and Economics at Yale University. Mr Tay, a Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholar, will be reading International Relations and History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Mr Woon, who will be reading Law at Cambridge University, will join the Legal Service after he returns. This year’s batch of six President’s Scholars are a good mix of male and female scholars and going to a good spread of universities in the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom and the United States.
7 The President’s Scholarship demands a commitment from you to serve your nation and fellow citizens, regardless of race, religion or socio-economic background. When you are abroad, bear in mind that you represent Singapore. Continue to do us proud by excelling not just in your studies but in engaging yourselves in university and community life, helping the less able and less fortunate.
8 Broaden your horizons by seizing all opportunities to learn new things about the world and about yourself. By staying in touch with community life and engaging in community work overseas, you will continue to acquire knowledge about, and empathy for, the concerns of ordinary people – something you will need when you return home to serve your fellow Singaporeans as public servants.
9 I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the families, principals and teachers of our President’s Scholars. The achievements of the Scholars today bear testimony to the good work you have done in their lives, in nurturing them to be who and what they are.
10 Once again, my congratulations to Miss Gan Su Yi, Miss Claire Soon, Miss Tan Bao Jia, Mr Jonathan Au Yong, Mr Nicolas Tay and Mr Alexander Woon. I am sure all of you will do Singapore proud by being good ambassadors of Singapore and by living up to the hopes and expectations we have placed on you. I wish you success in your studies and look forward to you serving with distinction in your careers with the Singapore Public Service.
2 Life has not always been like this. As a young nation, we had our fair share of tumultuous years – grappling with racial tensions, security threats and economic downturns. We overcame each and every crisis by staying united as a nation. It is during such difficult times that we demonstrated our resilience, adaptability and indomitable spirit.
3 The achievements and successes we celebrate today are also the result of the vision the founding leaders had for the nation, their courage in implementing changes and their passion in serving their fellow citizens.
4 We will continue to need visionary, brave and passionate leaders with the ability and the heart to build a successful and vibrant Singapore. That is the key purpose behind the award of the President’s Scholarship, the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the country. They are given to this year’s most outstanding young men and women from our schools. The award recipients are talented and passionate individuals who have excelled in both academic and non-academic achievements. They have also distinguished themselves as top students in their cohort through their leadership qualities, sound character and a commitment to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.
5 Selecting President’s Scholars is a highly rigorous process. Headed by the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, the President’s Scholarship Selection Board this year interviewed 15 talented and outstanding young men and women. From this year, all candidates being considered for the President’s Scholarships would be put through an Assessment Centre, where they would go through a series of exercises that presented challenges and scenarios related to public service work. The Assessment Centre exercises provided the Selection Board with a better all-rounded perspective of the candidates and added further rigour to the selection process for President’s Scholars.
6 I am happy to announce that this year, the President’s Scholarships are conferred on six outstanding young men and women. They are Miss Gan Su Yi, Miss Claire Soon Jing Min, Miss Tan Bao Jia, Mr Jonathan Au Yong Kok Kong, Mr Nicolas Tay Weizhe and Mr Alexander Joseph Woon Wei-Ming. Miss Gan will be reading Economics at University College London. Miss Soon will head for Oxford University to read History and join the Foreign Service when she returns. A PSC China Scholar, Miss Tan will be reading Economics at Peking University. Mr Au Yong, who is a concurrent holder of the Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship, will be reading Ethics, Politics and Economics at Yale University. Mr Tay, a Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholar, will be reading International Relations and History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Mr Woon, who will be reading Law at Cambridge University, will join the Legal Service after he returns. This year’s batch of six President’s Scholars are a good mix of male and female scholars and going to a good spread of universities in the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom and the United States.
7 The President’s Scholarship demands a commitment from you to serve your nation and fellow citizens, regardless of race, religion or socio-economic background. When you are abroad, bear in mind that you represent Singapore. Continue to do us proud by excelling not just in your studies but in engaging yourselves in university and community life, helping the less able and less fortunate.
8 Broaden your horizons by seizing all opportunities to learn new things about the world and about yourself. By staying in touch with community life and engaging in community work overseas, you will continue to acquire knowledge about, and empathy for, the concerns of ordinary people – something you will need when you return home to serve your fellow Singaporeans as public servants.
9 I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the families, principals and teachers of our President’s Scholars. The achievements of the Scholars today bear testimony to the good work you have done in their lives, in nurturing them to be who and what they are.
10 Once again, my congratulations to Miss Gan Su Yi, Miss Claire Soon, Miss Tan Bao Jia, Mr Jonathan Au Yong, Mr Nicolas Tay and Mr Alexander Woon. I am sure all of you will do Singapore proud by being good ambassadors of Singapore and by living up to the hopes and expectations we have placed on you. I wish you success in your studies and look forward to you serving with distinction in your careers with the Singapore Public Service.
Pinkie Lee's NDP Message
No Baby bonus, no tax incentives this time round - only his complains and unhappiness!
Monday, August 10, 2009
1,600 guests attend National Day reception at Istana
Now Lets us EAT!
President S R Nathan and Mrs Nathan hosted a National Day reception at the Istana on Monday to mark Singapore's 44th birthday.
The reception is an annual affair. About 1,600 guests attended this year's reception. They included Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and other members of the Cabinet.
Also present were MPs, community and grassroots leaders, as well as members of the diplomatic corp.
Local band Electrico was there to entertain guests with this year's National Day theme song "What Do You See".
President S R Nathan and Mrs Nathan hosted a National Day reception at the Istana on Monday to mark Singapore's 44th birthday.
The reception is an annual affair. About 1,600 guests attended this year's reception. They included Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and other members of the Cabinet.
Also present were MPs, community and grassroots leaders, as well as members of the diplomatic corp.
Local band Electrico was there to entertain guests with this year's National Day theme song "What Do You See".
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
10 challenges for Singapore
IN A National Day dinner speech yesterday, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong listed 10 challenges arising from Singapore's success, and which the next generation will have to face:
1 Maintaining high rates of economic growth
Singapore's economy has grown from $2 billion 50 years ago to $250 billion.
Mr Goh warned: "Just remember, the world is a very competitive place and our economy has matured."
2 Improving living standards which are already high
More than 90 per cent of Singaporeans own their homes, which are equipped with electricity and modern sanitation facilities.
This is an improvement by leaps and bounds over the housing situation 50 years ago, when thousands of Singaporeans lived in slums and squalor.
3 Providing better transport at affordable prices
Students now travel in air-conditioned cars, buses or trains, unlike in the past.
In the future, the Government would have to satisfy people's higher expectations of comfort, convenience and congestion-free travel along with providing affordable fares, Mr Goh said.
4 Stamping out diseases of affluence at affordable health-care rates
People live longer now and more develop diseases linked to an affluent lifestyle, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and kidney failure, instead of infectious diseases.
Such illnesses are also more expensive to treat, said Mr Goh.
5 Helping to keep workers employed till age 75
In 50 years, Singaporeans' life expectancy has risen from 60 to 80 years of age, and the retirement age has been raised from 55 to 62.
With advances in health care, life expectancy will probably increase to 90 years in the future and people would have to work till the age of 75 to have enough savings "for a cosy retirement of 15 years", Mr Goh said.
The challenge would be to motivate and train older people to continue working, he said.
6 Getting young people to marry and have children
Development has led to a plunge in birth rates here.
Fewer women are getting married, and those who do are giving birth to fewer babies.
7 Supporting an ageing population
This will be a problem as an increasing number of old people will live longer, while fewer young people will be around to work and support them, Mr Goh said.
Now, 9 per cent of the population is aged above 65. By 2030, this will double to 20 per cent.
8 Getting more land
In the last 50 years, Singapore's land area has expanded by more than 20 per cent through reclamation.
As the population and economy continue to grow, more land would be needed, and its use balanced between the economy, housing and recreation.
9 Preventing a brain drain
Hundreds of students go overseas to study and more are not returning home.
Singapore needs to find ways to bond them to Singapore, so that most will return home and contribute, Mr Goh said.
10 Keeping a multi-religious society cohesive
Singaporeans are getting more religious, Mr Goh noted.
They have to guard against forming religious enclaves and mix with those of other faiths to prevent society from becoming divided, he said.
To work till 75... poor Sinkies...
1 Maintaining high rates of economic growth
Singapore's economy has grown from $2 billion 50 years ago to $250 billion.
Mr Goh warned: "Just remember, the world is a very competitive place and our economy has matured."
2 Improving living standards which are already high
More than 90 per cent of Singaporeans own their homes, which are equipped with electricity and modern sanitation facilities.
This is an improvement by leaps and bounds over the housing situation 50 years ago, when thousands of Singaporeans lived in slums and squalor.
3 Providing better transport at affordable prices
Students now travel in air-conditioned cars, buses or trains, unlike in the past.
In the future, the Government would have to satisfy people's higher expectations of comfort, convenience and congestion-free travel along with providing affordable fares, Mr Goh said.
4 Stamping out diseases of affluence at affordable health-care rates
People live longer now and more develop diseases linked to an affluent lifestyle, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and kidney failure, instead of infectious diseases.
Such illnesses are also more expensive to treat, said Mr Goh.
5 Helping to keep workers employed till age 75
In 50 years, Singaporeans' life expectancy has risen from 60 to 80 years of age, and the retirement age has been raised from 55 to 62.
With advances in health care, life expectancy will probably increase to 90 years in the future and people would have to work till the age of 75 to have enough savings "for a cosy retirement of 15 years", Mr Goh said.
The challenge would be to motivate and train older people to continue working, he said.
6 Getting young people to marry and have children
Development has led to a plunge in birth rates here.
Fewer women are getting married, and those who do are giving birth to fewer babies.
7 Supporting an ageing population
This will be a problem as an increasing number of old people will live longer, while fewer young people will be around to work and support them, Mr Goh said.
Now, 9 per cent of the population is aged above 65. By 2030, this will double to 20 per cent.
8 Getting more land
In the last 50 years, Singapore's land area has expanded by more than 20 per cent through reclamation.
As the population and economy continue to grow, more land would be needed, and its use balanced between the economy, housing and recreation.
9 Preventing a brain drain
Hundreds of students go overseas to study and more are not returning home.
Singapore needs to find ways to bond them to Singapore, so that most will return home and contribute, Mr Goh said.
10 Keeping a multi-religious society cohesive
Singaporeans are getting more religious, Mr Goh noted.
They have to guard against forming religious enclaves and mix with those of other faiths to prevent society from becoming divided, he said.
To work till 75... poor Sinkies...
Monday, August 03, 2009
3 Ah Nehs fight for Terrority in Tekka Market
Three men were involved in a fight on Sunday morning outside the newly—opened Tekka Market on Serangoon Road.
Police received a call at about 8am, but the fight had already broken up by the time they arrived.
No weapons were found at the scene, but eye—witnesses said knives were used.
An Indian man in his 30s was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Police said he was conscious when he was sent there.
Two other Indian men made their own way to the hospital.
Most shoppers inside Tekka Market did not seem to notice the commotion outside.
The market re—opened on Saturday after 15 months of renovation costing over S$10.5 million.
During the 15—month refurbishment period, some tenants moved to a temporary market at nearby Race Course Road.
Some tenants have reported an increase in rent by up to 20 per cent.
However, they are confident the spanking new facility will attract more customers.
Police received a call at about 8am, but the fight had already broken up by the time they arrived.
No weapons were found at the scene, but eye—witnesses said knives were used.
An Indian man in his 30s was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Police said he was conscious when he was sent there.
Two other Indian men made their own way to the hospital.
Most shoppers inside Tekka Market did not seem to notice the commotion outside.
The market re—opened on Saturday after 15 months of renovation costing over S$10.5 million.
During the 15—month refurbishment period, some tenants moved to a temporary market at nearby Race Course Road.
Some tenants have reported an increase in rent by up to 20 per cent.
However, they are confident the spanking new facility will attract more customers.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Welcome to Prataman's House
Usually closed to the public, the Istana grounds are open on five occasions – Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day and National Day. Admission is free for citizens and permanent residents. Foreigners pay an entrance fee of $1 per person. For the first time in months, I feel proud to be a citizen.
I arrived at the Istana Gate. There a queue had formed in front of a small booth. A lady volunteer was gesticulating to the approaching visitors, “citizens and permanent residents this side”, referring to her left (my right). Apparently the booth was a ticket booth and, as a citizen, I could skip it. However I couldn’t help but notice there were more people at the booth than skipping it. Istana can Earn Money!
A male volunteer stood at the gate. Out came the pink card - checked IC!
Past the gate, another ritual greeted me. This should be no surprise. I laid my bag onto the conveyor belt and crossed the gate. Luckily, it did not beep.
Long Qssssss
I didn't know... He is so popular!
Istana Main Gate
I arrived at the Istana Gate. There a queue had formed in front of a small booth. A lady volunteer was gesticulating to the approaching visitors, “citizens and permanent residents this side”, referring to her left (my right). Apparently the booth was a ticket booth and, as a citizen, I could skip it. However I couldn’t help but notice there were more people at the booth than skipping it. Istana can Earn Money!
A male volunteer stood at the gate. Out came the pink card - checked IC!
Past the gate, another ritual greeted me. This should be no surprise. I laid my bag onto the conveyor belt and crossed the gate. Luckily, it did not beep.
Long Qssssss
I didn't know... He is so popular!
Istana Main Gate
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