This is the film Singapore’s censorship board doesn’t want people to see. It’s the story of opposition politician Chee Soon Juan, who has been imprisoned twice for championing democratic change in the city state. Previously, I blogged about this issue and included a short videp clip. Now the full video is available for download. Note… Read More: Banned Singapore Rebel video for download »
Here’s a quote by Stéphane Dion from “Rising Cynicism: Who is to Blame?” that is especially pertinent in the light of recent developments in Singapore: “The public image of politics has deteriorated steadily…The three most sensitive issues seem to be frankness, probity and misuse of public funds. A growing proportion of the public thinks that… Read More: Decline in public confidence »
A blogger, Fearfully Opinionated, tried to offer new insights into the ministerial salary issue, claiming that related blog posts so far were “unoriginal, recycled and boring”. He goes on to say that “perhaps in being so eager to voice discontent, we fail to think. And when there is mass-unthinking on the plogosphere [sic], this is… Read More: Do the ends always justify the means? »
In his two-hour speech in parliament defending the proposed ministerial salary hike, Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong justified the move by saying that “I’m worried about somebody wanting to be Prime Minister, hoping to be paid not a single cent but still collect $400 million — under the table…” This is a flawed argument.… Read More: Have your cake and eat it »
It was reported that Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong will donate his pay increment of S$600,000 a year for the next five years to charity after Singaporeans became outraged by the recent ministerial pay hike. So does that make Lee Hsien Loong a modern day Robin Hood? No. Unlike the real Robin Hood who… Read More: Modern day Robin Hood? »
1 Singaporean commits suicide everyday on average. 70% of those who commit suicide in Singapore are between 20 and 49 years of age. They kill themselves mainly because of “financial commitments, having stress at work, caring for the elderly and the children at home”. (AFP, 8 September 2003) 18 divorces take place on average in… Read More: Mindboggling statistics »