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Imagine spending almost 270k for a 3-room unit, excluding reno and furniture & stuff, you kena a lemon flat... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_751520.html New flat: Problems, problems, problems Published on Jan 4, 2012 THREE months after I moved into my new HDB flat along Bendemeer Road, the supposedly stainless steel fixtures in my bathroom turned rusty. Their replacements by the HDB also turned rusty and I did not pursue the matter again because I was in the thick of my pregnancy. Four months later, one side of the indoor clothes rack collapsed as I was lowering it but thankfully, no one was hurt. That too was replaced. Last month, or some 14 months after we moved in, the ceiling of my living room started leaking because of a crack. Once again, the HDB contractors had to repair the damage. The repairs were major enough to require me to leave my flat with my baby for a few hours. How can a brand new flat have such problems within such a short period, especially when it was not a cheap three-roomer at $268,000. How does the HDB ensure the quality of the flats and fixtures? With the current volume of build-to-order (BTO) projects, I hope the HDB is not rushing to complete flats at the expense of its dwellers. Shameem Basheer (Madam)

From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_751908.html Multi-property owner speaks up Published on Jan 5, 2012

Yep thanks to this fare "revision", our doc here is now determined to get a car ASAP because of "unreliable" cab service... If more folks are using this excuse than we just have to be contented with our little red dot being a giant car park during peak hours... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_742416.html REVISION IN TAXI FARES Service should improve before charges are increased Published on Dec 8, 2011 LET me cite my experience last week to illustrate the unjustified cab fare revisions initiated by ComfortDelGro without a preceding improvement in service standards ('Other taxi firms set to revise fares too'; yesterday). Last Saturday, I tried to book a MaxiCab for five (four adults and a baby with a car seat) from ComfortDelGro. It took 10 dropped calls and an hour to finally get an answer. Having secured the first MaxiCab, we tried to book a return one, for which we were assured by ComfortDelGro that we would get an SMS confirmation. We were very willing to pay the required advance booking fee of $16. We received the SMS for the first cab immediately, but it took three hours to receive a rejection for the second. By then, we were in a rush to get to the airport as two people in our group had to catch their flight to Canada. So we decided to book two normal cabs instead. However, we managed to secure only one after about half an hour of trying (via the iPhone app and calling) and received no reply on the second. We even tried flagging ComfortDelGro cabs - to no avail. The experience left us anxious and irritated. We were highly inconvenienced by the shoddy and unprofessional service. Our Canadian guests could not understand why it was so difficult to book a taxi, whereas everything else seemed to work well in Singapore. The fare revision makes no sense in the light of such poor service. Cab operators should improve service or keep the fares low. We understand that Singapore has more taxis than many other major cities, but the service is much poorer. Now, we are even more determined to buy a car as soon as possible because we cannot continue being plagued by unreliable service. Dr Karthik Kumar

"...the size of new HDB flats today is still very comfortable" This woman is either living in the woods or delusional... So we are heading the way HK is presently doing now? Whatever happen to the Swiss standard of living our beloved ESM promised during his term as PM? Does Swiss folks live in small little pigeon holes? If our dear govt continue to build smaller and smaller flats, I guess by the time my kids are applying flats with their spouses in the near future, it may cost them each S$1m to buy a new 4-room unit of 50sqm... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_742417.html HDB is right to build smaller flats Published on Dec 8, 2011 I AM dismayed by the reactions criticising shrinking HDB flat sizes ('New flats' by Mr Yip Wai Hong on Nov 15; 'Little space' by Ms Karen Lee, 'S'pore can do better than Hong Kong' by Madam Tham Pui Ying and 'Why smaller isn't the way to go' by Ms Lim Wan Keng; all Nov 29). The small size of current HDB flats is one reason cited by couples for refusing to have more children and for their poor quality of life. Previous generations did not link the size of their flats with having the number of children they wanted. Even living in a one-room HDB flat did not deter couples from having more than three children. It is unfortunate if the size of a flat now determines the size of a family. There is also a sad trend that fewer married couples want to live with their parents. It does not make economic sense to build bigger flats when the family unit is shrinking. Having said that, the size of new HDB flats today is still very comfortable. As Housing Board figures have shown, the floor space per person is higher. HDB flats are also equipped with good sanitation, amenities and infrastructure. When it comes to improving the quality of life, Singaporeans should look into bonding with their families and neighbours, and creating a better living environment. Unless the trend of shrinking family units can be reversed, Singaporeans should not complain about shrinking flat sizes. Koh Siok Hwee (Madam)

Lee Hsien Loong in 2005: "And so, racial harmony and religious harmony are of utmost importance in Singapore, which is why when somebody went and published some racist blogs recently, we came down very hard," he said. "All you need is one crazy guy and a disaster takes place and an enormous rent happens, a tear in the fabric of society." Lee Hsien Loong in 2011: "I think we have to respond in a mature and calm sort of way. It's wrong that they did it and we acted against them but it's not necessary for us to get worked up every time something like this happens. It will happen once in a while and we will have to take it in our stride."

So far the Malaysian Chinese I encounter do not seem to be handicapped by not being able to speak English and I mean those I meet in the construction industry. They are however more comfortable communicating with us in Mandarin though. Maybe the warden feels that way too? From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Online...ory_738992.html Parking wardens should know some English Published on Nov 29, 2011 ON SUNDAY, I tried to strike up a conversation in English with a Cisco parking warden on duty at the junction of Telok Kurau Road and East Coast Road. He did not respond as he could not understand English. He then spoke in Mandarin and said he was from Malaysia. Maids are required to learn and pass English tests before employment. Shouldn't parking wardens on public duty understand basic conversational English? Ang Chin Guan

Bros please stay away from foreign-registered vehicles when on our local roads/expressways if you can help it. Whenever I can I will either slown down, speed up or best filter out of the lane itself when a foreign-registered vehicle is nearby to play safe. The experience by this frustrated motorist is a reason why I am so paranoid about this kiasi practice. What recourse does he have? From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_736907.html S'pore drivers at a disadvantage Published on Nov 23, 2011 RECENTLY, I was involved in an accident with a Malaysian-registered car driven by a Malaysian motorist here. He and I agreed to lodge a police report and to submit our claims with our respective motor insurers. But when I visited an authorised workshop of my insurer, Overseas Assurance Corporation (OAC), I was told that the workshop did not entertain claims against Malaysian drivers of Malaysian- registered cars because of the red tape involved. I was rebuffed by other similar workshops I called. What was shocking was that the Malaysian driver managed to submit a claim against me. OAC informed me that it was increasing my premiums upon renewal because it had received a claim filed by the driver's Singapore workshop against me. The increase would be permanent if the claim succeeded. When I asked OAC to process my claim because all other workshops had refused, OAC refused, stating that it was not a legal firm. I was given to understand that a Singapore motorist had to hire a lawyer to submit a claim for an accident in Singapore involving a Malaysian-registered car. Till then, my impression was that one was covered for all accidents that happened on Singapore roads. The irony must be obvious: Foreigners in a foreign-registered car can use Singapore workshops to make a claim for an accident against a local motorist in a Singapore-registered car plying Singapore roads. Shouldn't the authorities ensure that the laws on our roads prioritise protection for Singapore motorists ahead of foreigners in foreign-registered vehicles? Wong Shi Shen

Can be frustrating searching for empty lots especially at those popular coupon-parking car parks near schools or shopping centres with many such "parked" vehicles From ST Forum: 'Cheapskate' motorists hog parking space without paying Published on Nov 17, 2011 THE public carpark behind Far East Shopping Centre is popular because it provides cheaper parking for the Orchard Road area. Unfortunately, there are motorists who exploit this by waiting for their friends or family members in their cars, without displaying carpark coupons. I had an unpleasant experience there on Monday about 11.30am while trying to find a parking space. The driver of a Mercedes-Benz was reading newspapers at the wheel, without coupons being displayed on the dashboard. I approached her to check if she intended to park her car. She said she was waiting for her daughter but did not intend to use a parking coupon. That driver was not alone. Other motorists were also occupying parking spaces without paying for them. The carpark was full and there were many motorists queuing for parking spaces. How does the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) deal with such motorists who prevent others from legitimate use of parking spaces? Jeyarani Anita Henry (Ms)

This Mr Ho is proposing to revert back to the undemocratic, anarchic system which we have finally gotten rid of previously. If we gong gong adopt what he proposes, it will be a step forward, three steps back. No brainer what will be our response. [hur] From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_733650.html Consider reverting to appointed presidency Published on Nov 14, 2011 GIVEN the lack of understanding regarding the role of the elected president, it may be timely for the Government to consider reverting to an appointed presidency ('Many confused about job of president: Poll', Nov 2; and the editorial 'Fixing perceptions of the elected president's role', Nov 5). We can craft many rules about what the elected president can or cannot do, but the reality is that politicisation of the post is inevitable if a president is elected by the electorate. Not all the misunderstandings over the role of the elected president are inadvertent. Some probably reflect what sections of the electorate hope the elected president will do for them, even if it is beyond his constitutional authority. Though an elected president can function as a check and balance against an errant government, it need not always work out that way. If the electorate can elect an 'irresponsible' government, there is no assurance it will not elect an equally 'irresponsible' president. If Parliament decides so, Singapore can revert to an appointed president - without executive powers - once President Tony Tan serves out his full elected term. As for checks and balances, let the elected opposition of the day play that role. Ho Swee Huat

The word "surveillance" gives folks the impression that it is being watched which may not be Anyway, our MCFer bro Adrian's experience has already clearly shown sometimes even with all the evidence including video footage of the perpertrator in action given, sadly nothing will be done except a warning letter issued... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Online...ory_733601.html Motorists taken for a ride on carpark security? Published on Nov 14, 2011 WHEN my car was vandalised at a multi-storey carpark, after the culprit tried to open it with a crowbar, I noticed that a sign at the carpark stated that it was under surveillance, so I assumed it was monitored by closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras. When I checked with the HDB, I was told that it was not under its jurisdiction and directed me to the town council. When I telephoned the Tanjong Pagar Town Council, I was told that the carpark, in Block 10 Holland Drive, did not, in fact, have CCTV camera surveillance. Whichever authority is in charge of the carpark should not have given motorists a false sense of security. Elisabeth Raman Verlinde (Mrs)

Fromk ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_719226.html Stuck with an expensive lemon on four wheels Published on Oct 3, 2011 MY FAMILY bought a Mercedes-Benz last year and within two weeks of the collection of the vehicle from Cycle & Carriage, the engine stalled. Assuming that it was our unfamiliar handling of the car, we dismissed the problem until the Merc stalled repeatedly. The new car was sent to the service centre many times. It was even checked by experts from Germany, but the stalling continued - it stalled eight times in a year. When we asked for a replacement, we were told repeatedly to monitor the vehicle after each servicing. We were promised that if the fault was not rectified, the matter would be brought to the attention of higher management. When we finally met the senior manager, we were denied a replacement. He justified his company's stand by stating that the car should be repaired within the warranty period. We were disappointed with the way the case was handled and it raised an important public issue: There is no law in Singapore to protect consumers like the lemon law in the United States. I am now saddled with yet another problem, which has to do with the air-conditioning of the car. Having paid so much money to own what we thought was a reliable marque, we have had more than our fair share of inconveniences, frustrations and time lost. Where can we seek help? Wendy Ng (Ms)

If you've ever spent any time in an online forum, you've undoubtedly encountered certain individuals who abuse their status within the forum. I'm not talking about forum trolls. They're easy to spot and just as easy to dismiss. But rather, a different kind of malicious entity - the forum bully. ... Troll or Bully? In many ways, I have more respect for a troll than a forum bully. At least a troll is direct. If you pick up a snake, and it bites you, whose fault is that? The snake was just doing what it does. It's the same with trolls. Their intentions are obvious - they're in the forum to disrupt and cause trouble. They arrive with all the subtlety of a jet on a landing strip. Forum bullies are harder to spot. They disguise their intentions. But make no mistake. When you encounter one, you will know - because their bite is equally malicious and just as full of venom. What is a Forum Bully? A forum bully is school ground throwback. Remember that middle school bully with his pathetic little band of sycophantic followers? That's a forum bully. In ways the forum bully is just a pseudonym for a troll, but with a major difference. While the troll's behavior is condemned by the group, the forum bully's actions are condoned by the group. Established members of the group, who don't agree with the forum bully, usually remain quiet while the bully tears apart people just for sport and as a demonstration of power within the forum. Basically a forum bully is the equivalent of a popular troll -- a troll with power within the group. And therein lies the danger... ... Evolution of a Forum Bully Forum bullies are typically intelligent. They usually begin as helpful members of the forum. But as their power grows, their true nature reveals itself. Once established, forum bullies begin mixing their helpful posts with intimidation. As they evolve, and develop a reputation, they attract followers. The followers serve as back up, often times speaking on behalf of the bully to clarify the forum bully's statements. Other times the followers are like a pack of hyenas jumping in for the kill after the bully has drawn blood. As the forum bully fully evolves, she begins to feel immune to attack. She states her opinion regardless of accuracy or consequence, knowing full well that she can always rely on the support of followers to bail her out of trouble. Enablers ... The other danger of a forum bully is that she creates an atmosphere of fear within the forum - not fear among the established members, but rather fear among those outsiders who want to participate in the forum. It is this fear that enables the forum bully to operate. A forum operates on the classic in-group/out-group dynamic. The bully's behavior is tolerated because of an understanding of this dynamic. You don't attack those within the inner circle, only those outside it. If one of the respected members of the forum were to call the bully what she is, a petty, repugnant fraction of a human being, this member risks losing position within the forum. The resulting forum is a place in which comments are guarded. Politics are played. And the free flow of information is stifled. This is the true danger of allowing a forum bully to continue her activities. By not calling her out, the forum loses part of the dynamic it was created to foster. The forum bully also undermines the legitimacy of everyone else in the forum. ... ... What to do When Attacked by a Forum Bully Unfortunately if you are an outsider, there's not much you can do. To attack the bully often will cause the more established members of the forum to close ranks and dispel the outsider. There's a certain logic in this. As an outsider, you've yet to prove whether you're worth defending - especially against an established member of the forum. ... If attacked by a forum bully, disagree politely then get out. Diffuse the situation with silence. Remember, others will read your posts and make determinations about you. Even the most skillful defense will dash up against the walls of the kingdom. Besides, you may have more people rooting for you than you think. Forum bullies are not necessarily liked by the more respected members of the forum, they are merely tolerated because they are part of the inner circle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While I do not think we have a serious forum bullying problem, I do feel sometimes there is a small degree of group cyber bullying going on. I believe we do not set out to bully intentionally, but regardless of what has transpired, no one should bare the embarrassment of having a group of forumers taking turns picking on him/her. We may try to pass our words off as a teasing comment or a joke but remember we are all strangers here and across the World Wide Web an innocuous comment may turn into something insidious. Would sincerely hope all members strive to be professional in their comments, remain objective, always give the benefit of doubt and learn to walk away when you feel it is no longer possible for polite conversation. This holds true for any 'victim' as well. Cheers~

Well it is not often you see open disagreement with the old man and it gets published... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_712274.html MARRIAGE, MOTHERHOOD AND CAREER Aware disagrees with Mr Lee Published on Sep 13, 2011 THE stark choice between motherhood and professional advancement presented in Mr Lee Kuan Yew's comments to Ms Joan Sim is not new ('A PhD's fine, but what about love and babies?'; last Tuesday). In 1983, he said: 'We shouldn't get our women into jobs where they cannot, at the same time, be mothers.' In 1994, he said that 'attractive and intelligent young ladies' should go to finishing colleges so that they will be 'marvellous helpers of their husband's career'. And now, Ms Sim has been advised to stop wasting time on her doctorate and find a boyfriend instead. These views contradict the recent statements by Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Halimah Yacob to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) that gender equality is central to Singapore's socio-economic growth and that 'maximising the full potential of every individual, male or female, is a priority'. Under Cedaw, the Government is obliged to 'take appropriate measures to modify the social and cultural patterns of the conduct of men and women based on the idea of stereotypical roles of men and women'. However, state policies have not kept pace with social developments and changing gender roles. Fathers are not entitled to paid paternity leave, reinforcing the social expectation that mothers should bear most of the caregiving responsibilities. Flexible working arrangements attractive to mothers of young children are not widely available. Infant care facilities are inadequate for the country's needs. Such policies make raising children a daunting prospect for working women who want to continue their careers after becoming mothers. The State should take the lead in making family a more attractive option for these women, starting with a change of governmental attitude and the policies stated above. The Scandinavian countries have shown that appropriate state policies that counter social norms can reverse declining fertility rates. Public statements made by influential figures like Mr Lee are also important to shaping social attitudes. Remarks that imply that women belong at home and men should be primarily providers undermine the efforts of men and women who struggle every day to meet the demands of family and working life. Implying that marriage and motherhood are more important than education and work belittles the choices and contributions of women who prefer to be single or childless. Such comments also perpetuate sexist stereotypes for a younger generation. Nicole Tan (Ms) President Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware)

From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_707744.html Why opposition MPs can't be advisers to grassroots bodies WE REFER to Mr Muhammad Yusuf Osman's letter yesterday ('Advisers to grassroots bodies should be elected MPs'). The mission of the People's Association (PA) and its grassroots organisations (GROs) is to bond the community and connect people with the Government. PA and its GROs serve all residents regardless of their political affiliations in fulfilling their role. Grassroots advisers are appointed by PA, a statutory board. Besides connecting people to people, grassroots advisers are required to help the Government connect with people and help promote government policies and programmes such as anti-dengue and active ageing. Hence, the Government has to appoint grassroots advisers who support its programmes and can play this role well. Opposition MPs cannot be expected to do this and thus cannot become advisers to GROs. Ooi Hui Mei (Ms) Director Corporate and Marketing Communications For Chief Executive Director People's Association

Mistakes do happen but unforgivable if one never acts on it despite being notified. Can emphatise with the SPT's fustration... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Online...ory_706271.html Motorist fined wrongly, then let off out of 'goodwill' I AM a resident of Marine Drive and pay for my HDB season parking via Giro monthly. On Monday morning, I discovered a parking fine on my windshield, offering a compounded settlement fee of $50 for not having a valid season parking permit. The offence was recorded at 4.26am by the reporting officer. The initial letters of the vehicle licence plate in the fine was noted as SFC, while mine starts with SFV. That mistake, together with the fact that I have been settling my season parking through Giro for the past four years, naturally baffled me. I wrote in to the Housing Board and Wilson Parking (the latter issued the fine) on the same day and received an e-mail reply from HDB on Thursday. The Geylang branch officer noted that I had committed an offence by parking without a valid season parking permit. The HDB reply also stated that it would waive the fine this time but will not do so again. The reply was baffling especially as I did not commit the offence and HDB and Wilson Parking obviously got the vehicle number wrong. Yet it was made to seem as if they were waiving the fine out of goodwill. Sandra Ng (Ms)

http://forums.asiaone.com/showthread.php?t=42230 Wah, quite shocking. Quite amazing that even TT also kena outted and posted online. Gosh....! Dunno true or not.

Yes they can but buyers must be prepared to pay "market" rates... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Online...ory_702736.html Build ECs at prime locations I WAS heartened to hear of the raising of the income ceiling for build-to-order (BTO) flats as well as for executive condominiums or ECs ("HDB raises income ceiling to $10,000"; Monday). However, when I checked the locations of the new ECs, I was rather disappointed. New ECs are usually in outlying, suburban areas such as Sengkang, Yishun and Tampines, while prime sites in Serangoon, Clementi and Bishan are saved for private condominiums. Since the beginning of last year, 13 condominium sites have been sold, out of which five sites are in prime areas such as Hougang, Bishan and Kallang. For the same time frame, 11 sites for ECs have been sold and all the areas are in outlying areas. Given that the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Singapore Land Authority conduct land sales for private residential areas and most of such land are in central locations, shouldn't more central HDB sites be saved for ECs as well? Koh Chin Chin (Madam)

Baffles me as well... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Online...ory_703082.html Baffled by body find near Istana YESTERDAY'S report ('Decayed body found in drain near Istana grounds') concerned and baffled me. The grounds of the Istana, its surroundings and peripheral roads and byways are supposed to be protected and heavily guarded by auxiliary police officers, Singapore Armed Forces personnel and officers from the Security Command of the Singapore Police Force. I also understand there are round-the-clock perimeter patrols carried out by auxiliary police officers who are tasked with maintaining stringent security standards. Thus it baffles me that none of the auxiliary police officers on perimeter patrols came across the corpse, even when the body was decomposing. It takes about 30 hours for decomposition to occur in this climate and the stench can be detected kilometres away. It is strange that police officers who are trained to be alert did not stumble across the body, let alone smell the decomposition in the air. Lionel De Souza

From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Online...ory_700651.html PR's plea on lift upgrading SINGAPOREANS are lucky to have the Government upgrade their homes by subsidising lift upgrading by up to 95 per cent ('Why lift upgrading cannot be compulsory' by the Housing Board; last Saturday). However, permanent residents (PRs) are not eligible to vote in lift upgrading. Why is this so? PRs pay the full market price for their resale HDB flats and conservancy charges, and do not enjoy service and conservancy rebates. They regard their flats as their homes and contribute to nation building through the taxes they pay. And yet, when HDB asks residents to vote on the lift upgrading for their blocks, PRs are not allowed to vote on the physical work that will affect their homes directly. On top of that, PRs are asked to pay the full unsubsidised price. The increased cost borne by PRs is unlikely to be recouped from a higher resale price, as citizens do not have to pay for it and so can sell their flats at a lower price. A PR owner's only option is to sell his flat before the lift upgrading is completed. Give PRs a voice on changes to their homes. Sin Kuan Cheung

From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_697331.html Mindef should spell out NS deferment criteria DR PATRICK Tan's deferment of his national service (NS) for 12 years ('Patrick Tan on his medical studies'; last Saturday) brings to mind the stories of many other talented Singaporeans who were not allowed to defer their NS. Some are talented musicians, sportsmen or artists who have qualified for prestigious schools or have trained hard enough to don national colours for competitions. The Ministry of Defence's (Mindef) stock reply is that national servicemen are granted deferment only in rare and exceptional cases. After reading Dr Tan's clarification, I cannot help but ask what the thus far unspecified criteria are that would allow for discretionary deferment. Dr Tan's case suggests to me that budding musicians, artists or sportsmen are deemed less important than future doctors or scientists. If Singapore is to be vibrant and enriching, talented citizens in any field should be supported. What are the necessary conditions for deferment? Mindef's transparency will set the record straight and help in future appeals. Lim Guay Cheng (Ms)

Suay. Not sure kena by "freelance" buggers, because of personal feuds or targeted by Ah Longs because of neighbours' debts... Must have been really fruz to kena From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Online...ory_691664.html Car repeatedly vandalised I LIVE in Holland Close and have been parking my car at the multi-storey carpark at Block 5A. This year alone, my car has been vandalised three times. I made a police report over the latest incident and was shocked to find out that there were numerous reports on other cars being scratched at this particular carpark. If there have been so many such incidents, why was no action taken by the relevant authorities? There are notices warning about the carpark being under surveillance, but there are no closed-circuit television cameras. I have monitored the carpark for days and also noticed no security patrols. Do we have to wait for more severe cases to occur before any action is taken? Most of the season parking ticket holders I spoke to are angry and frustrated about the vandalism problem. One solution would be for the town council to install surveillance cameras. If such cameras can be installed to prevent lift vandalism, why not for carparks? Khoo Ee Yong

Didn't know MCF has also attracted businesses from Togo. Was approached by a user with the userid of Attorneybusiness with the message below in black. So how ban? Warm Greeting to you my good friend . With due respect of my Olympio Advocate Law Firm..Am contacting you for friend partner assistant to receive my client sum of $7 Million dollars, with Bank of Togo called (Banque Atlantique Togo) in Republic of Togo. This is confidential transaction because my client is the Minister of Power and Energy in Republic of Togo and because of politician ambition, he want to move this over profit contract fund abroad for investment through your individual and company assistant, kindly reply back if you are interested to cooperate .i am this legal attorney in charge and we agreed to offer you 30% share of this fund for your kind assistant cooperation to stand as partner oversea investor and receive this amount in your bank account.. Send me below information for more details.. Full Name:................ Address:............. Tel:.................... Age:................... Nationality:................... Email contact:................ Reply back with above required details to enable me to process the documents as I have all the deposit proof documents to support you ..This transaction will take only 5 working days. Get back to me urgent for more guidelines details to proceed . Olympio Advocate Law Firm Attorney: Andre Olympio Email me back :[email protected]

Almost 20 years ago while in U my poly classmates were already uneasy about foreign students (yes they were already admiting them then). Poly grads those days have to work for a few years before being able to apply for U. They really had to figh tooth & nail to gain entry into U so when they saw foreign students seemingly able to just apply and come in, it was a mixed feeling for them.... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_692867.html The 'Singaporean first' myth IN A recent lecture on higher education at Singapore Management University, Dr Tony Tan pointed out how crucial it is not to impede international talent from coming here. He essentially voiced his preference for a 'Singaporeans first' policy for higher education, rather than 'Singaporeans only' ('Tony Tan: S'poreans first, but don't shut out talent'; yesterday). While I agree with Dr Tan's dismissal of a 'Singaporeans only' tertiary landscape, I am befuddled by his perception that Singaporeans are demanding this. On the contrary, what Singaporeans are infuriated by are government and local university measures that excessively favour foreign 'talent' for admission. For example, the National University of Singapore (NUS) does not have a clearly defined way of calculating the admissions score for international students. NUS assesses admission at its own discretion and on the students' past education transcripts. Polytechnic students, on the other hand, are admitted based on a strictly defined admissions score, comprising 80 per cent polytechnic results and 20 per cent O-level results. Obviously, polytechnic students who might have excelled in their studies, but who have done less than spectacularly in the O levels, are disadvantaged. Does NUS consider a polytechnic education less rigorous? In addition, most needy local students have had to seek financial refuge in loans and bursaries, both of which do not provide complete financial relief. The less fortunate must juggle part-time work and university studies. Contrast this situation to that of the foreign students: Financial aid for them does not only come in the shape of exclusive scholarships, but also in Education Ministry tuition grants. The penalty for most of these students who can already afford the higher costs of overseas education? Working with a Singapore-registered company for three years. Dr Tan said it is not easy to find the right balance. For a start, apply greater selectivity for the ministry's tuition grants for foreign students. Also, a clearly stipulated admissions determinant, which resembles the template imposed on Singaporeans, should be adopted. While many recognise the advantages of having an international student body, resolutely doing so without selectivity is pointless. Let those who cannot afford such an education prove their mettle, and those who can, rightfully pay for their fees. Adam Liew

Some one is obviously of the opinion that the 4th Tan is unsuitable.. From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_692473.html Puzzled by Tan Jee Say's presidential promises I AM curious about the reasons behind Mr Tan Jee Say's motivation to serve Singaporeans ('Another Tan enters the fray'; last Saturday). The investment adviser has resigned from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). Yet he continues to promote his five-year $60 billion National Regeneration Plan, which he lobbied for as an SDP candidate at the hustings for the recent general election, in his presidential bid. Has he confused the role of Singapore's head of state with that of an opposition MP? If he is elected president, Mr Tan is reported to have stated that he plans to turn the grounds of the Istana into a central park. As far as I know, no country in the world, including the United States, has done this for the official residence of its titular head. Security is a key consideration. There is also the dignity of the office. Imagine a foreign dignitary being met by sweaty joggers on his way to an official meeting with our president and prime minister. Singaporeans may want a president who is not merely a rubber stamp for government policies, but it is just as important that we do not elect someone who rolls out populist schemes to appeal to the masses. Toh Cheng Seong

...if you go along the logic of this reader even though the ruling party has dispense with it already. From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_691779.html There's something to be said for standing on ceremony I DISAGREE with Associate Professor Hussin Mutalib's suggestion ('Let's not stand on ceremony for MPs'; July 9). What I found somewhat discomforting was his suggestions to review or revamp practices such as 'requiring residents to gather much earlier than the scheduled arrival of the MP, and requiring them to stand when the MP arrives'. Should we dispense with the basic values of respect for people who could influence the quality of our lives? As an elected official, an MP has been entrusted by his electorate to manage their interests and concerns, and deserves a modicum of decorum and respect. While his duty is to serve, it must be recognised that he is a leader. Imagine the prime minister attending a community event in his capacity as an MP, and walking in when the audience members are not all present, or when they loiter and chat, oblivious to his arrival. In treating politicians more like servants, we may well get it wrong on principle about etiquette and good manners. By studying human association in his own community, Confucius concluded that an essential principle of social relations is that of reciprocity. This means 'persons tend to act in relation to others as others act in relation to them'. Jolly Wee