Category: Sosial

Fanning The Flames Of Love At Jurong Fire Station

Jurong Fire Station, which is due to be demolished later this year and relocated to 22 Jurong West Street 26, holds many memories for the many firefighters and paramedics that have been based there.

When Jurong Fire Station leaves its current site at 25 Boon Lay Drive later this year to move to a new location, it will close its doors on the sweet memories of two people who fell in love there.

One morning in April 2001, Senior Warrant Officer 2 Mohamed Nur Azli was about to head home after ending his night duty when he heard Sergeant Maisya’s lively chatter fill the station.

Maisya had joined the station that morning as a trainee paramedic while Azli was on his second day of duty as a full paramedic after completing his training.

“She came to the station all chirpy and very noisy, I recall asking my colleague who the new girl was,” said Azli.

At the end of 2001, the pair had the chance to get to know each other better when they participated in the Civil Defence Skills Challenge (CDSC), which is now known as the Singapore-Global Firefighters and Paramedics Challenge (SGFPC), and which was a race to test the participants’ life-saving skills. The couple was paired together and they started to bond.

While participating in the challenge, the pair realised that they worked well together and were subsequently chosen to represent the 4th Civil Defence division in the inter-divisions competition.

And that was when the seeds of love started to bloom.

A few weeks after the challenge, they walked out of the gates of Jurong Fire Station and headed for their first date. That first date eventually led to them getting married in August 2002.

“We had different off days, but I would come back to the station on my off days specially to leave chocolates and a note on his table in the paramedics’ office,” Maisya said.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

July 3, 2017
Low Thia Khiang: Government Must Address Conflicts Of Interest

Workers’ Party’s Low Thia Khiang questioned the role of Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam in the Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road, noting that Mr Shanmugam was formerly a “close personal friend of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and other members of the Lee family”.

He also asked why lawyer Lucien Wong, who previously served as PM Lee’s personal lawyer, could have been appointed the Attorney-General last year.

“Is there also a conflict of interest here? Was this consideration taken into account when he was appointed the Attorney-General? Can the Prime Minister clarify the role of the Law Minister and the Attorney-General in this matter and explain to the House whether there is any conflict of interest,” he said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

July 3, 2017
Low Thia Khiang: Settle Family Dispute In Court

Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to settle the “private, family dispute” between him and his younger siblings in court, noting that less serious allegations had been dealt with under libel.

“Individuals who made less serious allegations that undermined the reputation and authority of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers have been brought to task for libel. There is no reason why this time it should be different because it comes from the Lee family. In fact, the allegations are much more serious,” said Mr Low, who is Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, in Parliament on Monday (July 3).

Slamming how the family saga playing out on Facebook has created an “ugly media circus”, Mr Low added: “Settling this in court will enable everyone to put forward their sides of the story with evidence.”

Amid this dispute, the line between the private and the public domains have been “blurred (and) crossed too many times” by PM Lee, siblings, as well as other members of the Government, he said.

This has distracted the Government and Singaporeans from “far more important issues”, and also damaged the Republic’s reputation on the international stage, he said.

The dispute created a public ruckus at an “unfortunate” time, when the Republic is confronted by wide-ranging challenges in the economic, geo-political and security areas, among others.

“We need to restore the line, make it a bright, red line, and restore the dispute that has crossed into the public domain and push (it) back into the private domain. We need to do this so as to move on to far more important issues that are truly national issues,” said Mr Low, citing as examples the heightening security situation in the region and Singapore’s perennial challenges with infrastructure like public transportation.

He added: “This saga is distracting the Government, distracting Singaporeans, and distracting the international audience (by) damaging the Singapore brand.”

Dr Lee and Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s allegations against PM Lee via a “continuous media campaign”—made on scattered evidence centered on family displeasure—undermine the Prime Minister’s authority and “does not make for constructive politics in Singapore”, he said.

But PM Lee and the Government also should not have contributed to the squabble, said Mr Low.

“The Government should set an example… It should not be involved in (the) Facebook brawl for the whole world to see… (It) should not continue with this dispute in the public domain,” he said, urging PM Lee to “take action to put (the public spat) to a stop”.

Source: www.todayonline.com

July 3, 2017
Low Thia Khiang: Oxley Dispute A Disservice To Singaporeans, Tarnishing Singapore Brand Name

Mr Low Thia Khiang says the Workers’ Party is concerned about how this saga will affect the nation.

The divide between ‘private and public’ in this dispute has been blurred, Mr Low added.

“This saga is distracting the Government, Singaporeans and the international audience.”

“It is damaging the Singapore brand.”

“This is not a Korean drama show,” says Mr Low of the dispute.

He adds that this is a serious matter because it affects the entire country at a time when Singapore faces various economic and political challenges.

Mr Low says making allegations in the public domain is a reckless thing to do.

The line between the public and private is a very important one. In this saga, the line has been blurred, he adds.

“We need to do this (debate) to move on from the saga to more pressing matters”, he says.

The Government should set an example and needs to maintain its dignity in the face of insults to its integrity.

“They should not get involved in Facebook brawl for the whole world to see.”

“This saga has become an ugly media circus.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

July 3, 2017
Lee Hsien Loong – Suing My Siblings In Court Will Tarnish Family Name

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (Jul 3) explained why he chose to raise in Parliament a family dispute instead of suing his siblings in response to a public spat which started in mid-June.

“Many people have asked me why I’m not taking legal action, to challenge the will, or sue for defamation, or take some other legal action to put a stop to this and clear my name,” said PM Lee. “I took advice and considered my options very carefully. I believe I have a strong case.

“In normal circumstances, in fact, in any other imaginable circumstance but this, I would have sued immediately.”

“Because the accusation of the abuse of power is a very grave one, however baseless it may be. And it is in fact an attack not just on me, but on the integrity of the whole Government.”

“But suing my own brother and sister in court would further besmirch our parents’ names,” he explained. “At the end of the day, we are brother and sister, and we are all our parents’ children.”

“It would also drag out the process for years, and cause more distraction and distress to Singaporeans. Therefore, fighting this out in court cannot be my preferred choice.”

“Every family will understand that family disputes do happen, but they are not something to flaunt in public. That is why I have done my best to deal with this out of the public eye.”

PM Lee said his purpose in keeping his submissions to the Ministerial Committee private was “not to pursue a fight with my siblings, but to assist the Committee in its work”.

“Unfortunately, my siblings made public allegations against me. I then had no choice but to defend myself, and release the statements and facts about the matter.”

“I stand by the statements I have published but I really don’t want to go further if I can help it.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

July 3, 2017