Saturday, April 26, 2025
25.7 C
Singapore
type here...
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 5199

Are credit co-operatives exposed to a sub-prime market in Singapore?

The Independent
-
0
Are credit co-operatives exposed to a sub-prime market in Singapore?

In a world where for-profit businesses struggle to stay afloat, some Institutes of Public Character (IPC) like NKF and Telecom Credit Cooperative Limited (TCC) were able to make sustainable profits. Their stellar performances are mainly attributed to their compelling storyline of existing for altruistic reasons and the favourable tax status by being an IPC in Singapore.

While these organisations purport to serve our society, there is a social cost to their existence through loss of tax receipts and inefficient pricing structures. Some of these organisations, in the past, have also been implicated for different kinds of malpractices and have landed in trouble with the law.

Commercial organisations are put under a stricter code of conduct than their non-profit counterparts due to their clear profit motives and their outward declaration of such. Take the companies in the US for example, they are bound by Sarbanes–Oxley (SOX) and as a result, top management must now individually certify the accuracy of financial information. In Singapore, there is a code of corporate governance for listed companies which however fall short of international standards like SOX. With IPCs, however, the governance standards are a lot more relaxed.

As of 31st December 2010, there had been 5425 authorized IPCs in Singapore and the numbers have been rising steadily. IPCs have become a symbol of influence and power. And people take up positions in the board of these organisations to show that they have “arrived” and it also serves as a status symbol.

There is a similar thread to the stories of NKF, Ren Ci Hospital and TCC. They are all run of course for the “right” reasons and in the case of NKF; contracts were awarded based on affiliation. It is troubling to see that people in these circles often neglect to adopt the same corporate governance standards as public entities and the society (or community) also does not impose the same standards, because they exist as a non-profit organisation. Take TCC for instance, it has a strap line of, “The Credit Cooperative with a heart.” It does not mean a thing apart from its ostensible slogan of differentiating itself from its competitors, which comprises of for-profit financial institutions in Singapore.

46joonniang

TCC charges a higher interest rate of 6% for its housing loans. OCBC bank’s home loan rates are currently at 1.78%. The only reason why TCC charges a higher interest rate is presumably to serve the sub-prime housing market of Singapore. I suspect that some of the members of this credit cooperative have a chequered financial history and hence TCC mitigates the risk by charging a higher interest rate. Otherwise, it does not make any business sense to charge a rate higher than the market.

There is also another risk or a danger that is lurking in our midst. If credit cooperatives serve a segment with a chequered financial history, and if credit is freely available to them, isn’t Singapore exposed to our own sub-prime crises should the housing market collapse. There are more than __ thousand members with TCC, the collapse of this cooperative can send shock waves into our economy.

Dealing with people with chequered financial history has other benefits especially when the housing market is on an upswing. The co-op can move to foreclose properties when members default which it can then flip in the market for a profit. Such practises have not been uncommon in other countries.

Organisations that plan to be profitable need to spell out their key success factors. Profits do not just happen especially in a harsh economic environment. What is interesting is that TCC has remained profitable in a lacklustre economy beating the odds and have outperformed for-profit institutions.

What is more revealing is that TCC has come under police probe for alleged cheating offences. Looking at some court documents, TCC has allegedly made erroneous claims such as

While there has been a strong resentment about organisations existing as for profit, this episode seems to suggest that there are more safeguards in public listed entities which exist for-profit than organisations that claim to exist for altruistic reasons but end up making a lot more money. Have these non-profit organisations become fronts for money making since private sector is more regulated.

There are serious questions that need to be raised:

  • Why is TCC an Institute of Public Character?

  • Why is TCC charging higher interests rates than banks, yet it calls itself a non-profit organisation?

  • Is there a sub-prime market in Singapore that poses as a risk to our economy?

  • What are the criteria for foreclosing properties under TCC terms and conditions? Are properties being foreclosed bought up by affiliates who then flip the property for a quick profit?

  • Why isn’t the Monetary Authority of Singapore regulating this market?

While we need to have more people to step forward to serve our communities, we also need to be more circumspect of how we achieve this. There is a danger when we become too complacent in the name of social work and let our guards down – a disaster is just waiting to happen.

This article was first published on The Online Citizen in September 2012.

Facebook Post by Vincent Wijeysingha

The Independent
-
0
Facebook Post by Vincent Wijeysingha
Facebook post by civil activist Dr Vincent Wijeysingha over an article that was posted on Breakfast Network.
Do you think poverty exists in Singapore? Was it a fair comment?
But what would the new rich in Singapore know about the daily struggles of an average Singaporean?

Post by Vincent Wijeysingha.

The song that caught our attention

The Independent
-
0
The song that caught our attention

By Elias Tan
Mindef BMTIt started with a song. And that song, modified by the men-in-green and sung in cadence to boost their morale in the midst of an arduous march, contained “misogynist” lyrics that condone violence against women. Although most men laugh it off, female rights advocacy group Association of Women for Action & Research (AWARE) took serious issue with it.
The song, Purple Light, contained these lines: Booking out, saw my girlfriend / Saw her with another man / Kill the man, rape (or beat) my girlfriend / With my rifle, and my buddy and me.
What followed next was predictable. Both the Ministry of Defence and Singapore Armed Forces were quick to ban the verse. Thumbs up for Mindef and SAF for taking a tough stand on violence and rape.
The ban has caused quite a stir among the online community, with both men and women taking either Aware’s side, or slamming the authorities and the advocacy group. One popular blogger, Darryl Kang, wrote in his blog entry that “it’s just a song” and banning it is not going to do anything to prevent men from raping women.
Sure, there’s nothing wrong in modifying the lyrics of a song and singing it out loud, but singing about rape is another. Rape is a henious crime that should not be normalised. Normalising and trivialising rape only goes to show men’s insensitivity and ignorance towards women.
Worse, singing it out loud, and on repeated occasions, desensitises a person to rape. It also conditions them into thinking that there’s nothing morally wrong with rape.
So guys, before you start singing the modified version of Purple Light, ask yourselves if you have ever thought about how rape victims suffered under the hands of their perpetrators; and the ordeal the victims’ family members, including their fathers and brothers, had to go through in order to seek relief and get their lives back on track.
Rape aside, the modified verse also glorifies another henious crime – murder.
While the outcome is clearly in Aware’s favour, it is unclear whether or not the banned verse is at all helpful in curbing the use of offensive language in army camps.
After all, it is common knowledge that most vulgar slangs and phrases disparage women.
What needs to be done is to discourage the use of vulgarities – Hokkien, Cantonese, even English – that degrade and insult the modesty of a woman in camps.
Officers and sergeants should also refrain from using swear words and vulgarities that describe their recruits’ actions as “soft” and “female” when their intention is to tell them to toughen up and be a man.
Hey! Calling your men ‘broken pussies’ and ‘smelly vaginas’ is not going earn you the respect you crave and desire as a high-ranking officer.

We the brats of Singapore

The Independent
-
0
We the brats of Singapore

Law professor Walter Woon cited the four constitutional challenges against the government since the 2011 General Election as examples of “diminished diffidence” of our society. He predicted that there would be fewer inhibitions in taking on the government as society becomes more diverse.
The score is 3:1, in favour of the government with the judiciary partially ruling against the Prime Minister in the fourth.
Why do people like Kenneth Jeyaretnam and M Ravi take on these complex issues? Ravi, in an earlier interview with The Independent, said: “Our oath at the Bar requires us to be fearless in the pursuit of justice. Such a pursuit becomes even more important when we have weak institutional checks on the state, like Parliament, and the role of the courts becomes even more critical as custodians of citizens’ rights.
M Ravi
“As lawyers, we must be prepared to take up causes, regardless of whether they are unpopular with some members of the public – like the issue of Section 377A of the Penal Code – or whether they are unpopular with the government – such as the by-elections case.”
Imagine if Lee Kuan Yew had been challenged on this same issue when Hon Sui Sen and Teh Cheang Wan’s deaths left their seats vacant. But that’s history, which requires a separate article.
Jeyaretnam, who was ordered to pay costs, posted on his Facebook: “The substantive issue is that if we are to be a democracy there should be robust systems of checks and balances and controls over our government giving away our money. My aim was never to stop the IMF from having our (S$5 bullion) loan commitment but to have it only after proper and due process.”
Prof Woon won’t have anything do with this kind of argument. “Activists must refrain from the “brat response to say this is what I want and I’m not leaving till you change it”. Woon and other speakers at the Institute of Policy Studies conference on civil society urged activists to “stay at the table” instead of taking a more combative approach.
Well, combative approaches can work, especially if the cases are genuine. A case in point is the strike by the China drivers last year.
When challenged by underdogs, the authorities escorted them to the airport and sent them home to China. And then argued in court against the four ring-leaders of the strike to be thrown into jail for taking illegal industrial action.

That was the first strike in 26 years. It took the Cabinet two days before they decided to call it a strike. It was an “industrial dispute” until then. SMRT was ready to call in the army — to provide drivers.
Fast forward to a year later. SMRT gave itself a huge pat on the back for its new bus captain career scheme earlier this month, promising salaries of up to $3,500. But my thoughts were with the 33 underdogs from China who brought about this “forward thinking” nearly a year ago.
Before this pay increase , SMRT tried to raise salaries by $25. Admittedly, the bus management has improved working conditions: At the Yishun interchange, they’ve put in a toilet and benches at the coffee stall where the bus drivers can gather during their breaks.
Still, for drivers who remained in Singapore – and for new drivers who arrived since – the work environment has improved as a result of what happened, according to SMRT statements and drivers who spoke to The Wall Street Journal. In some ways, the protest worked.
Drivers hired from China on two-year contracts now receive the same performance incentives as drivers of other nationalities, according to an SMRT statement. They also get a 13th-month bonus and a year-end variable bonus. SMRT said it took steps to improve dormitory conditions, including moving some drivers to better facilities and reorganising work schedules to allow adequate rest.
The company also revamped its human-resources department, disciplined under-performing supervisors and improved communication channels with its workers, it said.
The National Transport Workers’ Union has been actively encouraging foreign workers to become members. The NTWU now counts about 86% of SMRT’s mainland Chinese bus drivers – or about 380 people – as associate members, though contract workers like those from China remain excluded from full membership under the terms of the union’s collective agreement with SMRT.
However, associate members can seek union help to engage management on workplace grievances, although they remain excluded from collective-bargaining processes that determine pay and other working conditions.
On the government’s part, the Manpower Ministry has pledged to step up protection for vulnerable workers and encourage companies to improve mechanisms for handling employees’ grievances, Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin told Parliament in February.
“No matter how we painstakingly manage industrial relations, problems will emerge and disputes will occur,” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his May Day speech, making his first public comments on the SMRT strike.
“The government’s position is clear: We cannot tolerate any party taking illegal action, or deliberately damaging our harmonious industrial relations,” Mr. Lee said. “This is the Singapore way – we must preserve this fine spirit.”
The China workers have shown that there is another way.
Look at the protest against the 6.9 million population White Paper: the government has dropped all mention of increasing the population now and is dealing with the issues of transport infrastructure and health facilities and housing and jobs, which the protests were really about.
Coming back to Walter Woon… well, brats need not be associated with only the bad things in our society. Their actions can bring about positive changes, too.

Better service, SingPost

The Independent
-
0
Better service, SingPost

By Cheong Yaoming
On Nov 5,  I saw a SingPost van going at high speed near Block 70, Redhill Close. As it went round the corner, a large sack of mail fell out onto the road from a wide open side door.
singpost
Fortunately, it missed the pedestrians on the sidewalk and vehicles behind it. I grabbed the sack and placed it at the lampost and called the SingPost hotline to report the incident.
I had specifically asked the call operator taking my call to provide an update on whether the sack had been retrieved safely and how this incident could have occurred
One week passed and I had not heard from SingPost;  so I filled out an enquiry form on their website. The next day, I received an acknowledgement that “…we have forwarded this feedback to the relevant department. They will be investigating into this matter and will be liaising with you on the outcome the soonest.”
Finally after 15 days, I got a call from duty manager Vanessa Vergara who apologised for the delay and said it was due to a “backlog of matters”. Then, she said the lost sack of mail had been recovered and the driver cautioned.
What upset me further was her flippant and casual response to my questions on why the mail was lost in the first place and why it took so long for a proper response.
She was evasive and kept changing her story. When asked if lack of staff was the reason for the backlog, she said no but when asked why there was a backlog, she couldn’t give a satisfactory response.
I hope SingPost will investigate further and push for a friendlier and safer postal service.

5 Dangerous Retirement Myths That Singaporeans Believe

The Independent
-
0
5 Dangerous Retirement Myths That Singaporeans Believe
Sleeping old man

With the current cost of living, a fair number of Singaporeans can expect to be happily retired. Maybe by the age of, say, 162. Now there’s any number of external causes you can blame for that: inflation, growing household debt, inadequate pension plan, etc. But some of the causes are self-inflicted…like these myths we keep believing:
 

On the upside, older people need less sleep. So they may actually be able to make it through a whole investment seminar.

1. I Will Spend Less as I Grow Older

Consider how most of us spend more during a weekend.
Without work, our brain has trouble processing how much time there really is to muck about in. This effect is magnified when you’re retired, since every day becomes a weekend. And according to the MoneySmart Science department (i.e. me when I’m playing with magnets) you can lie in bed watching TV till 3pm maximum, before your legs drag you out the door.
The boredom makes us take up new hobbies, go on vacation, socialize more, etc. And since retirees combat boredom every day upon retirement, many will spend more during their initial retirement years.
On top of that, the cost of healthcare and insurance will increase. Don’t assume that, just because the mortgage is paid up, the extra cash will cover the difference.
You also have to factor the cost of replacing stuff every three to five years: you’ll need cash for home maintenance, replacing your guitar / computer / TV etc. Tabulate the cost of all that, and you’ll realize even $1,500 a month is a dangerously tight sum to retire on.

2. The House Will Make Me Rich
Irony: Not wanting retirement homes near our flats, because we need their property value for retirement.

First, I’m going to make the assumption that you’ll have no problems selling the house and downgrading. This is already a huge stretch, since the thought of it causes most retirees to flip the hell out.
(Oh, you don’t see why? Wait till you’ve spent 25 years of your life paying off the house you live in, and which your children and grandchildren grew up in. See how you feel about selling then).
The good news is Singapore’s property values tend to head up over time. And at present, the government has a $15,000 silver housing bonus.
The bad news is there’s no predicting what it will cost to buy a new house by that point; even a smaller one. No one can guarantee that your specific house will bring huge gains, whatever the condition of the country’s property market.
Now I’m not suggesting you’ll end up homeless (because if prices are bad, you can just keep the house and not sell). All I’m saying is, don’t count on getting rich when you sell the house. The profit margin may not be as huge as you imagine.
If you want to ensure a luxurious retirement, invest in other asset classes besides your house. You might also want to follow us on Facebook for the next 30+ years, as we track the state of home prices in Singapore.
(Hey, can’t blame a blogger for trying).

3. Saving Money Alone is Enough

Milo tinThe good news is grandpa stashed his life savings in this Milo tin. The bad news is it’s now worth less than the tin.

To understand why we no longer stuff money into Milo tins, let’s look at something called the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The CPI is an annual gauge of how much the prices of goods have risen. So a CPI of 4% means that, over the year, the prices of everything went up by 4%. That’s why a cup of kopi cost your grandma about a cent, and costs you around $1.20.
Now, grab your wallet and check the dollar bills. You will notice that, despite the prices of everything going up, the numbers on those dollar bills are not changing to compensate.
In effect, the money you have is worth 4% less. And every year, Singapore’s CPI reaches around 3% to 4%. Over the course of 20 to 30 years, you can expect inflation (the CPI) to utterly destroy your wealth if all you do is save.
In order to be safe, you should aim to beat the CPI by 2%. So you need to invest the money, and fetch returns of about 5% to 7%. There are plenty of ways to do this, from insurance policies to ST Index funds. You can check out investment basics in our other article.
And incidentally, the cost to get started can be as low as $100 a month. (Try POSB, OCBC or Philip Securities)

4. Invest Only in Super Safe Assets to Ensure a Happy Retirement

gold barsOur mattresses are harder, heavier, and clang. So I know Dad read another retirement article.

In general, safer assets tend to have lower returns. Take, for example, a safe investment option like your CPF: the returns are guaranteed, but they only yield 2.5% for the ordinary account, and 4% for the special account. Likewise, bank fixed deposits tend to hover around 1%, even though they’re safe as fortresses.
(As to why those returns are low, see point 3 about the CPI)
In effect, your investment guarantees may just be guarantees of poor returns. A more reasonable approach would be to diversify your portfolio: mix low and medium risk investments. The riskier investments provide higher returns, while the safer ones offset any losses.
It’s worth talking to a stock broker or independent financial advisor about it. Right now, while you’re young.

5. Retirement Happens at 62, I’ll Think About it Later

CandlesWe’re giving him one candle for each year in the company, so make sure the fire department’s on standby.

Retirement happens when you have attained financial freedom.
Some people retire at 62, some people retire at 70, and I know a lucky few who retire in their 30′s. If you start to manage your finances as early as possible, you don’t have to base everything on your CPF draw-down age. And even if you don’t aim to retire at 30, there can be no harm in understanding how others have managed it.
When you insist on thinking of 62 as the magic age, you tend to put off your financial education. You don’t bother learning about stocks and bonds, you don’t build your emergency fund, you don’t invest, etc. You take the all too common route of blissful ignorance, and panicking only after your 40th birthday.
Don’t do it. Regrets aren’t worth a damn, and you don’t want to find yourself hauling cans to a recycling centre at 62 because you started planning too late.
Image Credits:
Nicolas Lannuzel, xmichh, phalinn, digitalmoneyworld, jessica.diamond
Source: http://www.moneysmart.sg/money-talks/5-dangerous-retirement-myths-that-singaporeans-believe/

Govt audits, it's the same story every year

The Independent
-
0
Govt audits, it's the same story every year
DPM replies
“with regards to this year’s instances of procurement lapses, there was no basis to suspect any fraudulent or corrupt intent. However, in some of the cases during the last five years, there were reasons to suspect fraudulent or corrupt intent. And in those instances, AGO has refereed the cases to either the commercial affairs department or the CPIB”
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and minister for finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam responded in Parliament to questions raised about the lapses highlighted in this year’s AGO report. He noted that there has been an increase in the time needed to evaluate tenders, which is around three to four weeks currently.
This is not only because of more caution being exercised, but also due to the nature of tenders becoming more outcome specific. For large scale public sector projects, the evaluation time is even more than four weeks, which “to my mind is not excessive”, he said.
Replying to questions whether AGO has found any evidence of gratification, Tharman informed the House, ”With regards to this year instances of procurement lapses, there was no basis to suspect fraudulent or corrupt intent. However, in some of the cases during the last five years, there were reasons to suspect fraudulent or corrupt intent. And in those instances, AGO has refereed the cases to either the commercial affairs department or the CPIB.”
But, he added, such issues need to be addressed internally. “Capabilities need to be build, both up and down the procurement chain. We need to take significant steps to build up procurement capabilities by providing training in general. Secondly, its important to have a procurement specialist track. We need to have a core with people who are specialist in procurement. Thirdly, we are placing greater emphasis on top management responsibility in setting the tone of the organisation and overseeing internal audit, which is critical to a well-functioning procurement system.”
On being questioned why the Audit is done on a test-check basis, the DPM said, ”Audit, as a norm, is done on a test-check basis internationally, based on where risks are thought to be higher and likely. Otherwise it becomes part of the approval process in the first instance. Occasionally though, the government does it very thoroughly and on a very resource intensive basis. For example, in 2009, we did a thorough health check of IT procurement in the government sector after observing some problems. It took us two-to-three years. So it’s not something you do often. The system rests ultimately on having sensible rules, and very importantly, having honest and diligent officers, with the tone being set at the top.”
Replying to a question from Sylvia Lim of the opposition Workers’ Party about the scope of AGO being “narrow” than some other countries, Tharman said that he is “always happy” to review the scope but as of now AGO is ”feared” by government agencies due to its scope.
“The current ambit of the AGO allows it to look at virtually at all internal control and processes,” he concluded.

Singapore Political NewsSource

“A significant proportion of AGO’s audit findings is in procurement and contract management. Every year we see instances of lack of financial prudence in procurement and poor management of contracts and agreements resulting in higher expenditure for goods and services, under-performance not detected, penalties for non-performance not imposed, revenues due not collected, and little or no assurance of value for money in projects carried out. I attribute this state of affairs to three main factors: laxity in procurement and contract management, lack of rigour in scrutiny by approving authorities, and light touch in ministry-statutory board dealings.”

If this sounds like a portion from this year’s AGO report, it is partly true. Partly, because the para is indeed from AGO’s report, but the year was the financial year 2008/09 and the section was “Areas of Concern”.

Now to the present.

The Auditor-General (AG) in his recently submitted report to the President of Singapore for the financial year 2012/13 had observed lapses in five areas of “monitoring of performance of contractors, oversight of projects managed by external consultants, procurement, management of stocks and stores, and management of computer access controls”. The report further adds that “public sector entities could pay greater attention to and improve on their internal control systems” in these areas. The AG also notes that “as its audits are conducted on a test check basis, they do not reveal all irregularities and weaknesses. However, they should enable me to discover some of the occasional serious lapses.”

Similarly, for the financial year 2011/12, the AGO’s report under the section, Audit Observations, lists its main findings as, “A substantial portion of the audit findings pertains to procurement and contract management, and financial administration. The lapses and irregularities point to the need for the public sector agencies concerned to make improvements to the following areas: internal controls; administration of payments, including grant disbursements; management of contracts for works or services; and scrutiny by approving authorities.”

In the same vein, a year before, in 2010/11, the AGO wrote in its report, “This year, many of the lapses found in the audits of Government ministries and statutory boards are in procurement.

They arose when the Government procurement rules and principles of transparency, and open and fair competition were not adhered to.” The AG further says, “In the last four years, I have reported lapses in projects involving external parties appointed as project managers or consultants.

This year’s audits found two projects managed by an external party where lapses were pervasive resulting in a Government department being grossly overcharged and making large payments for materials before delivery.” The AG also notes that “lapses found were largely due to administrative expediency taking precedence over financial prudence. The agencies concerned can do more to ensure adequate financial vigilance in their procurement and payment practices.”

Finally, a look back at the AGO’s report financial year 2009/10, reveals its findings as, “Most of the findings in this year’s Report relate to internal controls over the management of public funds, for example, in the areas of payments and refunds. Also reported are lapses and weaknesses in IT security in a number of public sector bodies.” It further added, ”In the last two years, AGO observed weaknesses in governance practices in a number of the statutory boards audited. Consequently, AGO carried out a horizontal audit of the governance framework and practices, and a survey on internal audit functions across statutory boards. The horizontal audit and survey culminated in the compilation of two guides, namely ‘Good Governance Principles for Statutory Boards’ and ‘Implementation Guidelines on Internal Auditing in Statutory Boards’. These were presented to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) with a recommendation that they be considered for adoption by statutory boards upon which to model or improve their own governance framework and internal audit functions.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and minister for finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam in his reply in the Parliament on preventive measures against recurrent lapses, informed that government agencies have made special efforts to improve procurement processes since 2012. “The ministry of finance has also strengthened training programmes for procurement, and developed and disseminated check-lists to guide supervisors and officers on what to look out for at the various stages of the procurement process.”

”The procurement lapses cited in this year’s AGO Report are in fact all due to non-compliance with established rules, rather than gaps in the rules. It should also be noted that the majority of the findings concern lapses committed before 2012. This partly reflects AGO’s recent focus on government procurement in its audits, which have included looking at procurements in previous years,” he concluded.

The Revenue House located at Newton Road which houses Singapore's Auditor-General's Office
The Revenue House located at Newton Road which houses Singapore’s Auditor-General’s Office

http://newzzit.com/stories/govt-audits-its-the-same-story-every-year

My journey with Vui Kong

The Independent
-
0
My journey with Vui Kong

Ravi & YVK (500x334)Human rights lawyer M. Ravi tells Elias Tan how he got to know drug courier Yong Vui Kong, what inspired him to save the then 19-year-old from the hangman’s noose and how, in return, Yong has taught him the importance of perseverance.
***
Q. Now that Vui Kong’s case has come to a close, what are your thoughts on how the case progressed and how it has changed you as a person?
A. Vui Kong’s case is one Singaporeans should reflect on… our so-called love affair with the death penalty. Public opinion polls suggest that most Singaporeans favour killing people who have committed drug offences. Are we really a modern, educated and civilised society? Vui Kong’s case may mark a turning point… we can learn that we will not lose our well-ordered lifestyle as a result of allowing a drug courier to continue on living: that the entire structure of our metropolis will not collapse because a drug offence is not met with a killing; and that a mature society is one that can tolerate breach of the law without involving execution.
This case has taught me the values of perseverance and steadfastness in pursuing a cause. I did benefit immensely from the spirit of brotherhood in this fight for a fellow human being’s life and I’m privileged to be part of this struggle in seeking compassion from the State. The whole process has a humanising effect on everyone who participated in campaign.
Q. How did you get to know Vui Kong and what prompted you to go all out help him, even to the extent of campaigning to give him a second chance at life?
A. I learnt about Vui Kong’s case from a concerned activist lawyer. I immediately contacted Vui Kong’s previous lawyer and studied his background, making a trip to Sabah to visit his family and the kampung he grew up in. In my book, Kampong Boy, I have given a detailed account of my involvement in Vui Kong’s case. I came from a similar background and I could have been just like him.
Along with the fact that he was only 19 when he committed the offence, the case raised profound concerns of our criminal justice system in preventing our judges from looking at the extenuating circumstances. Together with other activists, I brought this case to Malaysia’s Parliament, lobbied and got the support of even the Foreign Minister of Malaysia. I’m also grateful to the London-based Death Penalty Project who engaged Edward Fitzgerald, a Queen’s Counsel, to assist me with my research pertaining to the various constitutional challenges.
Q. What do you find most rewarding while working on Vui Kong’s case?
A. The various constitutional challenges I brought before the Court of Appeal resulted in positive developments of the law, from review of clemency petition to the curtailment of prosecutorial discretion.
There were a barrage of criticisms from lawyers and the mainstream media that I was giving false hope to Vui Kong and his family. I’m glad that I did not succumb to those criticisms. While it was extremely difficult to continue fighting for Vui Kong when the last constitutional challenge failed, I am glad I stuck to my intuition and believed that there is always hope until the last day and we should never give up.
Aside from saving Vui Kong, there were 34 death row inmates whose executions had been delayed for almost three years as a result of the constitutional challenges launched. If not for these challenges, the 34 people would have been executed between 2009 and 2010.
I’m proud that Singapore had zero executions in 2010 when the Court of Appeal was deliberating Vui Kong’s constitutional motion against the mandatory death penalty. This contrasts with Singapore having the highest per capita executions in the world in 2004. I dedicate these achievements to my late mother who showered me with immense love.
Q. Has the courts become more careful in sending offenders to the gallows?
A. Certainly. The Courts are more careful.
In Vui Kong’s, there were two developments as a result of the pronouncements on his application to postpone his execution. Prior to that it was almost impossible to re-open a case. In this appeal, thankfully the Court ruled in his favour – that the finality principle should not be strictly applied to criminal cases in case the accused is wrongfully convicted.
Secondly, the Court ruled that if the accused has chosen to withdraw his appeal, it is compulsory for the Court of Appeal to review the lower Court’s decision. This pronouncement emanated from the fact that Vui Kong had initially withdrawn his appeal. Further developments were seen in Ismail Kader’s case where the Court of Appeal acquitted him as a result of the shoddy manner in which his statements were taken during interrogation. One can observe a momentum building up in the Court of Appeal towards allowing more discovery of documents in criminal cases so as to provide for equality of arms between the State and the accused during trial.

NS debate Part 3: Competing demands tear NSmen apart

The Independent
-
0
NS debate Part 3: Competing demands tear NSmen apart

By Zach Isaiah Chia
Mindef BMTIt is the post-NS experience, rather than the two-year conscription, that needs urgent attention. A main factor is the competing demands on those who have to do reservist training.
Here are some:
Get married fast (so you can start a family), have at least three kids (we need more kids), support your family (you are the guy), buy a home, climb up the corporate pole (because Singapore is a great place if you are rich), look after your parents (it’s your responsibility);
Compete with foreigners and females in the open economy (we cannot protect you, it’s a difficult world), don’t forget to strive for work-life balance, chase your dreams and find your passion.
Many men feel that the two-year NS stint already puts them at a disadvantage because they start life’s marathon race late. The age of the average college graduate worldwide is 21/22, the male Singaporean graduate’s is around 24-26. They see this as a loss of opportunities and income.
In contrast, scholars (the eventual policy makers) defer their service, and hence do not feel this pinch. SAF scholars also get promoted during their studies. It is therefore no surprise that many NS men are starting to study part-time while still serving NS and doing other things on the side.
Then there is talk of changes like those to the Individual Physical Proficiency Test, or IPPT, for the first time since 1982 to keep in line with Australian and American professional standards. This made many worry that they would fail and thus be made to do remedial training which can have an impact on their careers.
In-camp training has also been questioned. Some have complained that this makes it hard for people to plan work trips since important business trips do not get planned six months in advance. Others have stories of being passed up on promotions due to NS liability. The IPS survey showed that some 46 per cent of men felt that bosses would prefer to hire people without NS obligations.
So what can be done? Here are some suggestions.

  • Set up a training refresher branch and require servicemen to sign up for its sessions once every three years. This can replace in-camp training and allow servicemen to pick a time to go down and refresh their skills.
  • Give lessons and talks on NS to young servicemen and teach them the importance of keeping fit, as well as how to keep fit, in the hectic work world.
  • Get the sports council and the Ministry of Health to put up signs to teach the average working male how to improve his health and fitness, not for IPPT but for his overall health and fitness.
  • Take a more flexible approach to IPPT: do we need to pass all levels to reach the final test or can we have a less restrictive system?
  • Increase the financial pay-out for IPPT performance and cut down remedial training by allowing the soldier to retake IPPT after each remedial training.
  • Provide annual tax breaks for companies that hire NSmen and who are supportive of NS obligations.
  • Provide those who have served the nation with distinction during or after NS with significant rewards, such as priority in housing or lower income tax rates.

Why it should not be LKY Stadium

The Independent
-
0
Why it should not be LKY Stadium

Source
Source

By Tan Bah Bah
It is an injustice to the memory of the late E.W. Barker to have the National Stadium named after any other person. Sports in Singapore had no more fervent champion than the Law Minister. There was no one even anywhere near him.
In his school and university days, Barker represented his institutions in athletics, hockey, cricket, rugby and soccer. He was a national cricketer and hockey player. Which People’s Action Party leader today, especially at that senior level, has such sporting credentials?
Sports was the passion of Barker. He carried that flame brightly throughout his career as a first-generation People’s Action Party leader. Practically anything noteworthy in Singapore’s sports development until the Ng Ser Miang era could be traced to Barker.
He was President of the Singapore National Olympic Council for two decades. He led Singapore’s successful hosting of the 12th and 17th South East Asia Games.
He was an honorary member of the SEA Games Federation.
For his contributions to the development of sports in Singapore, Barker was presented the Olympic Order (Silver) by the International Olympic Committee in 1985, and the Distinguished Service Award of the USA Sports Academy in 1983. He was recognised at the world stage at a time when Singapore’s international profile was not all that high.
It seemed strange, therefore, that there have been suggestions that the National Stadium be named after Lee Kuan Yew.
No, Lee has never quite been associated with sports as a national leader the way that Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tengku Abdul Rahman was. The Tengku was keen on soccer and even owned some successful race horses. Few Singaporeans have ever seen Lee publicly embracing any local sports champion or sportsmen or women.
A more appropriate institution or place to perpetuate the name of Lee would be Changi International Airport. The first Prime Minister has had a personal interest in the development of Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport throughout his years in power. Although he would act vigorously to ensure the success of the airline, he has said that if he had a choice, he would opt for Changi over SIA. Changi, like the port, is a major lifeline for Singapore’s survival and growth, more indispensable than the airline.
That was how important Lee regards Changi and how closely identified he is with our world-renowned airport. The precedents for naming airports after prominent national leaders: Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The American airport was, in fact, renamed from the original Idlewild Airport in1963 to honour the assassinated Kennedy.
We can also rename Orchard Road and call it Lee Kuan Yew Avenue, since he spent so much of his life in his family home in the area and at the Istana.
Lee’s only public link with the National Stadium was that he officially opened the National Stadium in 1973. But it took some time and persuasion by E .W. Barker to convince him that the country needed a stadium for sports and other national activities such as National Day Parades. The pragmatic Lee – at least the Lee Kuan Yew of old that we knew – was against the idea because he feared it might turn out to be a white elephant. This was Singapore in the pre-ministerial high salaries days.
Barker successfully argued for the building of the stadium. The government put aside land and money for the project. The stadium cost $50 million which would sound, by current construction price standards, almost laughable or a bargain. Compare that amount to the $1.1 billion for the Gardens By The Bay which may well turn out to be the real white elephant!
Because of its strategic location and ability to get things done, Singapore has seldom had any problem bidding to be the venue for international sports events. Not many Singaporeans may recall. But we actually bid successfuly to hold the Asian Games many years ago. The lack of facilities in the end forced the Singapore National Olympic Council to surrender the organising right. Luckily, India stepped in to hold that particular games in New Delhi.
Never again.
The multi-purpose sports hub will help take care of the infrastructure challenge. We should be able to hold games the size of the Asian Games. With new stadiums also springing up in Asean countries, Asean should be in the position in the near future to hold the Fifa World Cup.
No one would be prouder of the hub and the major events that will grace the venue than E.W. Barker who had presided over many sports ceremonies at the old National Stadium.

1...5,1985,1995,200...5,228Page 5,199 of 5,228

The Independent SG

Singapore News

James Gomez: The academic, activist, and opposition voice contesting Sembawang GRC in GE2025

0
SINGAPORE: As Singapore gears up for the General Election...

Residents sceptical of hot tubs to be built at Nee Soon East Oasis Waterpark say it’s only a matter of time before they are...

0
SINGAPORE: After a flyer announcing upcoming upgrades in Nee...

Hash browns and green bean soup: Singaporeans share memories of growing up poor

0
SINGAPORE: Singaporeans who experienced poverty during their childhood came...

Changi Beach reopens for water activities after Johor oil spill clean-up, says NEA

0
SINGAPORE: Changi Beach has officially reopened for swimming and...

Business

Singapore Politics

© The Independent Singapore