Category: Sosial

PSLE Maths Question Weighs Heavily On Parents’ Minds

HOW heavy are eight $1 Singapore coins? Six grams, 60g, 600g or 6kg?

That question in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) mathematics paper on Friday has upset a number of people, including parents.

At least one person suggested the question is not related to maths and that it must have baffled many pupils sitting the exam, Chinese evening daily Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday.

The person, surnamed Lee, posted on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page seeking clarification.

“Are we having (an) IQ exam or maths exam?” wrote the Facebook user, who also believed there could be more than one answer since the candidates were not told the weight of each coin.

According to a mother whose letter was published by Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, the exam question has generated a lot of discussion among parents.

“Our children found it difficult to answer,” wrote Yin Xiuping, who said many pupils simply resorted to perception and estimation.

Some picked 600g because they had noticed how the pockets of their pants had sagged each time they placed coins in them, said Ms Yin.

Some based their answer on the belief that the weight of eight $1 coins is close to that of a 500ml mineral water bottle, she added.

But private tutors told Shin Min that such questions are not uncommon in primary school exams.

“The question is in line with the maths syllabus. For example, pupils are taught to estimate the weights of objects such as a watermelon,” said Ann Tan.

Some teachers have even brought their pupils to supermarkets where they can check out some common items first-hand, added Ms Tan.

According to another tutor, who wanted to be known only as Ms Sng, many pupils still cannot answer such questions although they have appeared before in the PSLE.

“Some parents want their children to only attend classes, take tuition and do their homework… They are not even allowed to make purchases on their own. But maths is all around us and children should learn from their surroundings,” said Ms Sng.

Ms Yin wrote: “The conclusion among parents from this question is that their children should be made to do more housework so they could acquire basic knowledge on life.”

And the answer to the question? Based on a photo showing eight $1 coins on a weighing machine, which Shin Min got from a reader, the coins weigh 61g.

Source: http://mypaper.sg

October 7, 2015
Singapore Education Sytem Produces “Sheeps” Who Cannot Think And Follow Blindly

<Facebook post by Tan Kin Lian>

The education system of the PAP has produced many people who cannot think but will follow their leaders blindly.

If the leader introduces any stupid measure and tell them that this is to prevent terrorism or national defense, they will believe it it blindly and defend the measure totally. It does not matter that the measure is ineffective or wasteful.

These people cannot judge whether the money is spend correctly. It is easy to fool them. They cannot think and are gullible. This is due to brainwashing by the mainstream media.

The remind me of the sheep in the novel, Animal Farm.

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

October 7, 2015
NTUC FairPrice Removes Asia Pulp & Paper Group Products

Supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice announced on Wednesday (Oct 7) that it will withdraw all paper products sourced from Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP), after the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) said it has instituted a temporary restriction on the use of the “Singapore Green Label” certification for the Indonesian firm’s products.

In a press release, FairPrice said it carries 14 Housebrand products that are certified with the Singapore Green Label. Among them, two are Housebrand tissue products sourced from APP through a licensed distributor. In addition, all 16 APP-related products from various brands carried by the chain also have the Singapore Green Label certification, FairPrice said.

Products affected by the withdrawal include FairPrice Softpack Tissue 200s, and FairPrice Gold 3 Ply Facial Tissue 140s, supplied by APP. FairPrice will also withdraw all APP-related products, including those from Paseo, NICE and Jolly, by 5pm on Wednesday, it said.

NTUC FairPrice CEO Seah Kian Peng said: “We have been proactively monitoring the situation over the past week. We initiated meetings with the various parties concerned when the list of firms including APP, was named by the authorities as suspects for contributing to the haze.”

“As a fair business partner, we reserved taking action pending further information and investigation by the authorities. Our decision to withdraw all APP products is a result of the temporary restriction of their Green Label certification,” he added.

“NO SUPPLIER HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE INVOLVED”: APP

APP has said it has “nothing to hide” and “no supplier has been proven to be involved” in raging forest fires in Indonesia contributing to hazy conditions around the region.

In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday (Oct 7), APP – which is a member of Indonesia’s Sinar Mas Group and has an office in Singapore – said it received a notice from Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) on Sep 25 and had responded in accordance to their deadline.

NEA had issued the notice under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, seeking information on its subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires in their concessions, as smoke from raging forest fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan had pushed air quality to unhealthy levels in Singapore.

APP added that it has invited NEA officials to visit its operations in Indonesia to demonstrate the company’s no burning policy.

“If a supplier were found to have been involved in setting forest fires, our policy is clear and we would disengage that supplier. Thus far no supplier has been proven to be involved. It is premature therefore to make judgments until investigations by relevant authorities are completed,” the statement said.

In the statement, APP said its list of pulpwood suppliers is public, and the company submits concession maps to the Indonesian government and World Resources Institute (WRI).

“We continue to implement our Forest Conservation Policy (FCP) round the clock, as well as deploying 2,900 trained firefighters and fire suppression helicopters to help deal with this tragic situation,” APP said in the statement, adding that there are fires within their suppliers’ concessions, but not started by the company or its suppliers.

“The fire situation is complex and both the Singapore and Indonesia governments and authorities are still investigating the situation.”

APP products include Enlivo notebooks, Inspira paper and Paseo tissue paper.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

October 7, 2015
Is Living In Malaysia A Good Move For Singaporeans?

Thousands of people cross over the Tuas Second Link and Woodlands Causeway to Singapore daily for work or school. Among them is a growing number of Singaporeans who have chosen to move to Malaysia, and still continue to work in Singapore.

To some people, living in Johor Bahru or Iskandar, and commuting daily to Singapore seems like a crazy idea – just think of the endless long queues at Customs and perennial Causeway jams. Yet, in view of the favourable currency exchange (Singapore dollars to Ringgit), you would have to agree that such a move does come with huge potential savings and other non-tangible benefits.

So then, what are some of the major pros and cons of living in our neighbouring country?

Pros:

1. Huge potential savings

As mentioned earlier, with the Ringgit hitting a new record low against the Singapore Dollar, it is as good as having a “pay increment” when you work here and spend in Malaysia.

Iskandar is three times the size of Singapore. Given the sheer land amount of land available, one of the biggest pull factors that has drawn many Singaporean investors, is the size of the property that you could not possibly buy here for the same amount of money. In other words, you get more land for less money in Malaysia, and also the opportunity to design and build your own home at a more reasonable price.

In addition, the prices of Johor properties have weakened significantly over the recent months, making now a good time to consider buying a house in Malaysia if you plan to stay there for long. Even if ownership is not in the pipeline, rental there is still very much affordable which means your salary can go further.

2. More holistic living environment

As much as we love watching movies and shopping, recreational choices are pretty limited in Singapore. Yet for families who stay in Malaysia, they have easy access to a wide variety of activities at affordable prices, not to mention that Legoland and national parks are all within a short driving distance as well. For them, mall visits and staycations are no longer necessary, as they can easily drive up to Malacca, or even Tioman, for a relaxing, foodie or sightseeing trip over the weekends.

A bigger house also means more room to cultivate new hobbies that were once not feasible due to a lack of space, like gardening. Imagine the joy of growing your own spice garden at the back of your house, or teaching your young kids how to cycle on your spacious front porch.

This is this peaceful and laid-back lifestyle that captivated many locals who have made their way across. A slower pace of life, and easy access to a range of wholesome activities are essential, attractive qualities that contribute to a more holistic lifestyle. Quiet nights without hearing the sound of vehicles zooming past, and seeing greenery instead of another concrete block each time you look out the windows, adds icing to the cake.

Cons:

1. Traffic is a killer

Nothing is perfect in this world and living in a foreign land definitely has its fair share of challenges. For Malaysia, traveling from place to place can be rather tricky without a car, especially if you need to travel to and from Singapore. Hence, your daily transportation mode is an important factor to consider before you cross over.

Even if you do own a car, having to wake up early before 6am to ensure that you beat the jams and reach your office on time, in addition to the exhausting Causeway commute and “gung-ho” driving of fellow Malaysians, can add further stress to an already sleep-deprived mind.

Staying in Malaysia might work out better for those lucky ones who have flexible working hours or can work from home, as they can avoid the peak hours and enjoy smoother traffic when traveling in and out of Singapore.

2. Higher reported crime rates

Let’s face it: we are all too familiar with scary tales of robberies and thefts in Malaysia. To live in constant fear of being robbed can be rather daunting for some of us, and night life is definitely a big no-no for those who prefer to be cautious.

Not only is installing a home alarm system a necessity in Malaysia, being vigilant on the roads and in public places is also a must if you do not wish to fall prey to lurking thieves.

Source: www.propertyguru.com

October 7, 2015
Two Suspected Lesbians In Aceh To Undergo Rehabilitation

BANDA ACEH — Two suspected lesbians detained earlier this week by Islamic Shariah police in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province will undergo rehabilitation instead of being charged with a crime, a police chief said today (Oct 3).

The women, 18 and 19 years old, were taken in for questioning Monday night by Sharia police officers who saw them sitting and hugging each other in Ulee Lheue, a coastal neighbourhood in the capital, Banda Aceh, according to the Shariah police chief, Evendi Latief.

“They later confessed to be a lesbian couple and that was supported by pictures found on their handphones,” Mr Latief said.

The two women, identified only by the initials “AS” and “N” will not be charged because a new criminal code for Aceh that criminalises homosexuality won’t take effect until later this month, he said.

Under that code, any person found guilty of homosexuality could face up to 100 cane lashes or a maximum fine of 1,000 grams of fine gold or imprisonment of up to 100 months. Indonesia’s national criminal code doesn’t regulate homosexuality.

Source: www.todayonline.com

October 7, 2015