Photo: Unsplash/Megan Lee (for illustration purposes only).
SINGAPORE: A school bus driver received a seven-week jail sentence after pleading guilty to causing hurt to a 12-year-old boy whom he thought had spilt a can of green tea.
Since the boy ended up with a dislocated shoulder, the driver has been ordered to pay S$138 as compensation for the boy’s medical bills.
Poh Choon Huat, 64, pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt, which caused grievous hurt. If he does not pay for the compensation, he must serve one more day of jail time.
The incident occurred around 2:00 pm on July 31, 2023, while Poh was driving students home. The Primary 6 boy, whose identity is protected by a gag order, was sitting at the very back of the bus with a friend.
The friend needed help opening a can of green tea, which the two attempted to do while the bus was still moving. A sudden stop caused the boy to drop the can, and the tea spilt.
The boy then took the can to the bus attendant to inform her about the spill. He had also cried out, “Aunty, water spill.”
She approached the back of the bus and reprimanded the two boys. The boy tried to explain that his friend spilt the drink, but the attendant said she would tell his teacher about the incident.
At this point, Poh, the bus driver, also scolded the boy, who again tried to explain what happened. The driver also said he would report the matter to the boy’s teacher and told him to get off the bus.
The boy refused and held on to his seat and seal belt. Poh then “grabbed the victim’s left wrist and left shoulder and pulled while the victim was seated, intending to cause hurt to the victim,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Kathy Chu, who added that the driver wanted to pull the boy out of the seat by his left shoulder.
And when the boy yelled at Poh not to touch him, the driver taunted him and pushed him on the shoulder multiple times. After the boy pushed the driver’s hands again, Poh swiped his hand over his cheek.
When the boy’s sister, 11, asked someone to take a video of the incident, the attendant stepped in, and Poh returned to his seat and drove the bus again.
However, when the boy’s grandmother learned about the incident and confronted Poh, the driver laughed it off.
The boy was taken to the doctor on Aug 2, and it was discovered that he had a dislocated shoulder, along with other injuries. He was on hospitalisation leave from Aug 2 to 15.
When Poh was sentenced, District Judge Kenneth Chin said:
“As a bus driver entrusted with the safety of his young charges, the accused’s response in this episode was inappropriate, disproportionate and had caused harm to a young victim, including the dislocation of his shoulder and almost two weeks of hospitalisation leave.”/TISG
SINGAPORE: Shocked and frustrated, Ms Magdalene Soh vowed never to “patronize” a restaurant again after discovering a worm in her soup.
“Bought their Signature Superior Soup from Lao Jiang Superior Soup (Punggol Oasis Terrace) and was SHOCKED to find this creature inside the soup 😱😱😱😱😱😱 Makes me wanna vomit when I’m doing this post 😱😱😱😱😱😱,” Ms Soh wrote on Facebook Group ‘COMPLAINT SINGAPORE’ on Jan 9.
She also attached a photo of the receipt, a full photo of her soup (with the worm in it), and a close-up shot of the folded, slimy worm.
Photo: FB/COMPLAINT SINGAPORE
Photo: FB/COMPLAINT SINGAPORE
Photo: FB/COMPLAINT SINGAPORE
According to the post, Ms Soh was not feeling well and wanted to have some “soupy stuff” for her lunch. At around 12:28 PM, she bought “Teochew Batang Fish Soup” and “Signature Superior Soup” from Lao Jiang Superior Soup.
She ended her post by saying, “she was so so not going to patronise this store anymore.”
‘Netizens: Report to SFA’
After seeing Ms Soh’s post, several netizens urged her to report her case to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
“Complain to SFA (Singapore Food Agency),” one netizen wrote. Another netizen said he has stopped eating out because “you never know what you’re eating.” One more netizen took pity on Ms Soh, “Poor thing u are sick n found this in Yr food.”
Lodging Complaints to SFA
The Singapore Food Agency was founded as a Statutory Board to supervise food security and safety under the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. The goal of SFA is to guarantee and secure a safe food supply.
SFA usually conducts food hygiene standards inspections at retail locations and will take enforcement action if violations are discovered.
However, while the SFA is constantly working to ensure that the regulatory measures are properly enforced, it is also important for consumers and the food industry to play their part.
If you notice any unsanitary conditions in your local retail food establishment, please do not hesitate to report it to the SFA’s website at www.sfa.gov.sg or through their online feedback form at https://form.gov.sg/6514e1564fec5f0012d62b48
SINGAPORE: Mr Natkin Tan took to the Complaint Singapore Facebook group on Tuesday (Jan 9) to plea for people to be more considerate of their neighbours.
“Why are there so many inconsiderate residents / people in this area?” the resident wrote. Attached to the post were pictures of a black sofa blocking an emergency stairwell. “Almost everyday!” the resident added. “Today is the worst! Blocking (an) entire emergency staircase exit!”
A few online users shared the writer’s sentiments, calling the behaviour “selfish” and “inconsiderate.” One wrote, “This inconsiderate neighbor needs to call (the) Town Council to collect such large size furniture.”
According to the National Environment Agency, HDB flat residents who need to discard bulky items must contact their respective Town Councils for details on properly disposing of such items.
Part of being a considerate neighbour is to refrain from leaving items in common spaces, such as furniture pieces like sofas and mattresses and large appliances like washing machines and refrigerators.
HDB tips: How to be a good neighbour
What else can you do to be a better neighbour?
The Housing and Development Board lists a few tips on its website, encouraging Singaporean residents to take part in fostering a safe and happy environment for everyone to live in.
It encourages people to build healthy relationships with their neighbours by getting to know them and giving them a helping hand when needed.
The HDB also encourages residents to always keep their neighbours in mind, especially with noise and safety. This means respecting the neighbourhood’s quiet hours (10:30pm to 7:00am) and ensuring that one’s home and surroundings are always safe for everyone.
People are also encouraged to be active members of their neighbourhoods by participating in and volunteering for community activities.
As for residents with pets, the HDB reminds pet owners to be responsible for their furry friends. This means cleaning up after them and ensuring they are trained well and up to date with their vaccines.
The HDB website has a number of resources for residents looking for ways to be better neighbours.
SINGAPORE: The government has revealed that it decided to defer the scheduled ministerial pay review, originally set for 2023, due to “other pressing issues” such as global geopolitical uncertainties and economic challenges.
A year ago, in January 2023, the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, Chan Chun Sing, signalled that the pay review would take place in 2023, but the year went by with no sign of salary adjustments.
Responding to parliamentary questions from Members of Parliament (MPs) Hazel Poa of the Progress Singapore Party and Alex Yam from the People’s Action Party (PAP-Marsiling-Yew Tee) on why the review did not take place last year, Mr Chan said on Tuesday (9 Jan):
“In 2023, the global geopolitical situation has become more uncertain, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and continuing heightened geopolitical contestation. On the economic front, significant uncertainties and downside risks in the global economy remain, impacting our local economy and our wage and inflation outlooks.
“Hence, we decided to focus on dealing with these key challenges at hand and defer the review of political salaries for now.”
Minister Chan assured the government would revisit the political salaries framework and benchmark “in due course” to ensure its relevance and alignment with current conditions.
In 2012, a White Paper on Salaries for a Capable and Committed Government recommended the appointment of an independent committee every five years to review the salary framework for political appointment holders.
The ensuing review in 2012 resulted in significant pay cuts for top officials in 2012, including a 51% reduction in the president’s pay and a 36% reduction in the prime minister’s pay.
The pay cuts, also imposed upon other ministers and the Speaker of Parliament, came after the watershed 2011 general election, which saw the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) lose a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) to the opposition for the first time.
In 2018, a subsequent committee found that the existing salary framework remained “relevant and sound.”
The committee suggested yearly political salary adjustments in alignment with annual benchmark movements to stay abreast of market developments. However, the government decided against making changes at that time due to economic transition.
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said in 2018 that the issue would be revisited after five years or when deemed necessary.
The current benchmark for an entry-level minister is based on the median income of the top 1,000 Singapore citizen earners, with a 40% “discount” reflecting the “ethos of political service.”
Salaries for other political office holders are determined based on ratios to the pay of an entry-level minister, accounting for their distinct roles and responsibilities.
As of 2023, the benchmark level for a minister’s monthly salary stands at S$55,000, translating to an annual salary of S$1.1 million. The salary framework also includes adjustments in response to market conditions, with the last significant recommendations made in 2018.
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has ordered a two-week closure of the popular Roti Prata restaurant Casuarina Curry following the discovery of a cockroach infestation on the premises, raising serious concerns about food safety standards.
In a statement yesterday (9 Jan), SFA said that Casuarina Curry, located along Casuarina Road in Sembawang Hills Estate, will be closed from 9 to 22 Jan.
Alongside the closure, the establishment’s licensee faces an $800 fine for failing to maintain their premises free of infestation and selling unclean food.
These offences each carried six demerit points and were detected within a 12-month period, leading to penalties. The SFA has a policy that licensees accumulating 12 or more demerit points within the stipulated timeframe may face suspension of their licenses for up to four weeks or even cancellation.
In addition to the fine and suspension, all food handlers at Casuarina Curry are mandated to re-attend and pass the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Food Safety Course Level 1 before they can resume their duties.
Any food hygiene officer working at the affected premises must re-attend and pass the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 3.
SFA asserted that it takes a serious view of these offences and reminded food operators to “observe good food and personal hygiene practices at all times, and to engage only registered food handlers.”
The agency affirmed its commitment to stringent actions against Environmental Public Health Act violations. Licensees, businesses, and food operators are urged to comply with hygiene standards to ensure public safety and prevent such incidents.
Members of the public who witness poor food safety practices in food establishments are encouraged to provide feedback via the SFA’s online feedback form or contact the SFA Contact Centre at 6805-2871.
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Government has assured that it prioritises encouraging businesses to develop family-friendly workplaces in response to a series of forum letters published by the national broadsheet.
One of the two letters that prompted the Government’s response stressed the need for collaboration between the Government, employers, and the wider community to create a ‘Singapore Made For Families,’ where marriage and parenthood are attainable, enjoyable, and celebrated.
The other letter urged the authorities and employers to make it easier for young working couples to have more babies and looked to Japan’s example to make the point that workplace support is key in this endeavour.
Agreeing with these views, a civil servant at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a forum letter published by The Straits Times on Sunday (8 Jan) that the government has been enhancing measures over the years to support working parents better.
Ms Amelia Tang, Senior Director at the PMO’s National Population and Talent Division, outlined various initiatives aimed at creating a conducive environment for work and family life balance. She said:
“Our surveys and engagements with couples have similarly shown that managing work and family commitments is one of the key considerations when making parenthood decisions.”
She highlighted the government’s progressive measures, including the recent doubling of government-paid paternity leave to four weeks and unpaid infant care leave extended to 12 days per year, effective from the start of 2024. These measures reflect the government’s dedication to facilitating a supportive environment for new parents.
Tripartite partners, comprising the government, employers, and unions, have actively promoted family-friendly workplace practices.
Initiatives such as the Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs in 2018 and the Tripartite Standard on Work-Life Harmony in 2021 exemplify collaborative efforts to assist employees in managing their work and family commitments.
Ms Tang also announced plans to introduce the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) requests in the coming year. These guidelines aim to establish norms and expectations for employees making FWA requests, ensuring responsible use, and guiding employers on proper and fair management of such requests.
The Government representative added, “We will continue to work closely with tripartite partners to encourage employers to build family-friendly workplace cultures and implement human resource practices that allow them to achieve their business objectives and support their employees at the same time.”
SINGAPORE: Tomorrow (11 Jan) marks exactly six months since the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) launched a probe into Transport Minister S Iswaran on 11 July 2023.
While the anti-graft agency arrested and later released the ruling party politician on bail, the lack of details into the outcome of the investigation – or even what the case is about – has raised public expectations on the magnitude of the case.
The absence of information for months has also led to questions on how the People’s Action Party (PAP) will be impacted as it undergoes its long-awaited leadership transition this year and heads into the next election.
After a long silence spanning months, the Government revealed in Parliament yesterday (9 Jan) that the CPIB has concluded the investigation, and its findings are now before the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). Details about the case, however, have yet to be released.
Responding to Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa’s request for an update, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said on behalf of the Prime Minister:
“I understand that there is much public interest in this matter. I want to give my assurance that this case will be put through the due legal process.”
Revealing that the CPIB probe was “robust and thorough,” Mr Chan said that the AGC is now reviewing the matter.
This is the first official update in the case since early August 2023, when the Government revealed that Mr Iswaran, who has been placed on a leave of absence, has had his ministerial pay cut to $8,500 per month while he earns his full MP allowance.
This means that, although he has been interdicted from his duties, the politician has earned about $147,000 in the six months since he was arrested on 11 July 2023.
“The investigation went on for too long”
While questions about the nature of the case being investigated are rife, Singaporeans also ask whether the six-month wait for answers is too long.
Corruption cases involving ministers are rare in Singapore, and there is no reliable precedent for how long a CPIB probe would take in such an instance.
The last time a Cabinet minister was involved in a CPIB probe was in November 1986, when then-National Development Minister Teh Cheang Wan was investigated for allegedly accepting bribes.
The probe, however, came to a standstill after the Minister died by suicide before being charged for the offences.
On whether taking close to half a year to investigate the case was too long, academic Dr Howard Lee told The Independent Singapore (TISG):
“The Iswaran probe indeed went on for too long, and it is only necessary to do so if the case involves multiple parties and there is a need to trace every single source or corruption.”
Suggesting that the lengthy wait will only raise public expectations, the lecturer in communication from Murdoch University told TISG:
“The government needs to realise that the longer it delays this, the greater the expectations that this is a serious case with wide ranging impact. Whatever Iswaran’s culpability, be it minor or major, it will be magnified by the perceived seriousness of the case given the duration of investigation.”
The potential impact on West Coast GRC
While the implications of the probe’s findings remain to be seen, National Development Minister Desmond Lee called the probe a “very worrying development,” in a recent interview.
Mr Desmond Lee was lifted from Jurong GRC ahead of the 2020 General Election to support Mr Iswaran on the West Coast as he prepared to face off with former ruling party MP Tan Cheng Bock and his PSP team at the polls.
Mr Iswaran’s team narrowly retained control on the West Coast, with a vote share of 51.68 per cent – despite the presence of two ministers.
The West Coast GRC team is operating one MP short, with the other MPs sharing the load. With their anchor minister missing in action over the past six months, Mr Desmond Lee has said that the incident “has had an impact, is a big impact”, although he did not elaborate on what this impact is.
He, however, said that despite the impact, his team has been working to engage residents and deal with issues like the cost of living and inequality. He told The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao:
“Since (the news broke) in July, we have been able to hold the team together, energise them to continue serving the ground with passion and dedication.”
The National Development Minister added, “But that has not distracted us from the important mission of continuing to serve our residents and ensuring that there is no disruptive trend to service continuity, that there are people that residents will continue to look for assistance.”
With West Coast GRC appearing to be on shakier ground, it remains unclear if the ward will continue to exist within its current boundaries, whether Mr Desmond Lee will take over as anchor minister or whether other heavyweight ministers will be redeployed to lead the team in the next election, which must take place by 2025.
Dr Howard Lee expects that West Coast GRC’s electoral boundaries will change for the next GE – but this will have little to do with the impact of the case involving Mr Iswaran.
He told TISG: “We should expect a fairly extensive reshuffle of the GRCs for the next GE, and this has little to do with Iswaran and West Coast as much as it has to do with two significant developments in the PAP.
“First, a number of senior Ministers will be looking at retiring, so there will be a need for junior Ministers to fill the void as anchor candidate.
Second, the 4G leadership was still very much riding on the near-spent goodwill of the 3G in GE2020. They have yet to substantively prove themselves as an electoral team, or even demonstrate their ability to work together as an effective government.”
Pointing out that there hasn’t been a single GE where the redrawing of electoral boundaries has not take place, Dr Lee said: “I doubt Iswaran and West Coast will have a significant part to play on how this will be done.”
Peregrine: Moon mission inauguration to include space burials?
Despite the scientific focus of Astrobotic’s privately crafted lunar lander, the “Peregrine,” the mission also carries some controversial cargo – cremated human remains for “space burials” from two companies, Elysium Space and Celestis, sending these remains into orbit or to the moon.
A brainchild of the Pittsburgh-based company Astrobotic, Peregrine is set to embark on its journey into space on Monday at 2:18 a.m. ET.
With no crew aboard, the spacecraft will ride atop the United Launch Alliance’s cutting-edge Vulcan Centaur rocket, taking off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The Peregrine
NASA reports an 85% chance of favorable weather conditions for the Monday launch, heightening expectations for the historic mission.
Success would mark Astrobotic as the pioneer private company to execute a controlled, or “soft,” landing on the lunar surface.
While the moon mission is privately funded, it receives sponsorship through NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, a crucial component of the agency’s moon exploration initiatives.
It enables NASA to engage private firms for missions ferrying scientific instruments and equipment to the lunar surface, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation.
These include gauges to measure the lunar surface’s radiation environment and spectrometers to analyze material abundance.
Space burials
The matter of ‘space burials’ raised concerns, notably from Buu Nygren, president of the Navajo Nation, who considers leaving human remains on the moon a “profound desecration” of a sacred celestial body.
John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic, expressed disappointment that these concerns were not raised earlier but affirmed the company’s commitment to finding an amicable resolution with the Navajo Nation.
If the Peregrine mission proceeds as planned on Monday, it will aim for a lunar touchdown on February 23, targeting the Sinus Viscositatis site, where ancient lava once flowed.
Conservatives calling Nikki Haley “too woke” to be Republican politician
There are several discussions around Nikki Haley in recent days, but most of them are not in a positive light for her. For the most part, Republican supporters are calling her “too woke” to be a candidate representing them. Conservatives on X feel that she should step down as a Presidential candidate and end her campaign.
It seems that even among the Republicans, they too feel that she is incompatible with their party. Politico states, Trump’s campaign mounts attacks against Nikki Haley, diverting focus from Ron DeSantis in a sudden shift days before voting starts. With TV ads, social media assaults, and direct verbal attacks from Trump himself, the former president aims to hinder Haley’s campaign momentum.
Trump’s camp now views Haley as a substantial threat, especially after her polling gains, foreseeing a possible surge if she secures second place in Iowa. Dismissing DeSantis, they spend millions targeting Haley’s stances and past remarks.
The intensified assault, involving millions in ads and relentless criticism, indicates Trump’s concerted effort to stifle Haley’s rise in the Republican race.
Is Nikki Haley “too woke?” Conservatives on X feel so
Libs of TikTok has been one of the vocal conservative pages on X against Nikki Haley. The page states that her campaign has been focusing on DEI, which is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which is predominantly a woke liberal ideology. Other conservatives feel that she is a Hillary Clinton in disguise.
Any adult who says children should be able to get sęx change surgeries should be banned from ever being near children.
It’s basically an admission of guilt.
If Nikki Haley says this publicly just imagine what evil she’s capable of privately.
A controversial topic which revolves around transgender surgeries for minors has put her in a tight spot as well. Republicans are known for being against minors going through transition surgeries that are often permanent. However, Haley seems to be taking a different approach as to her voters by feeling that the law should stay out of 12-year-old kids wanting to transition.
Others went on to use her birth name, Nimrata and state that she is a pure blooded Democrat. Regardless, her approach to the party is wildly different than what her other two opponents, Trump and DeSantis represent.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has refused to rehear former President Donald Trump’s defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll and rejected his plea for immunity.
This decision paves the way for a potential last-ditch effort by Trump to take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court just days before the scheduled trial in Manhattan federal court.
Court of Appeals’ rejection
The appellate court’s rejection of an en banc appeal, where all 13 judges would have reconsidered the case, marks a critical juncture in Trump’s ongoing legal woes.
With no active judge from the Second Circuit advocating for a rehearing, the path to the Supreme Court becomes the final recourse if the former president chooses to pursue his appeal further.
The defamation lawsuit initiated by Carroll stems from her allegations of sexual abuse against Trump, with a federal jury previously awarding her $5 million in damages.
However, the upcoming trial will determine additional compensation for the former president’s denial of Carroll’s sexual assault accusations while he was in office.
The initial trial found Trump liable for sexual abuse under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, as the jury unanimously concluded that he had defamed Carroll by falsely rejecting her claims.
The remaining lawsuit focuses on Trump’s denials during his presidency, and the legal proceedings have been mired in appeals questioning his immunity over statements made to reporters while in office.
Another immunity plea?
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is scheduled to participate in a hearing related to the January 6 election interference in Washington, DC.
Despite Trump signaling a potential Supreme Court petition in December, the clock is ticking as the trial date looms.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan has already affirmed Trump’s liability based on the first verdict, leaving the second jury tasked with determining the extent of additional damages in a protracted legal battle with far-reaching implications.
(@Bubblebathgirl) 
