Tag: Singapore

7 Things You Should Know About S R Nathan

S.R. Nathan to some Singaporeans, was characterised as the unassuming man minding his own business on a park bench. Photo by Alwin Lim

He was anything but.

Things you should know about the late S.R. Nathan:

1) He worked for the Japanese during the Japanese Occupation.

So he knew first hand how much it sucked to work for bosses you think might kill you any other day. During the Japanese Occupation, Mr S.R. Nathan worked for the Japanese Civilian Police as a translator. It takes guts to go in to work everyday under those circumstances and Mr Nathan had plenty, as we will talk about next.

2) He’s actually a hero.

No exaggeration. We all know this by now. Not just a regular hero. He volunteered to lead the team. At the time of the ferry hijacking, he was the Director of Security and Intelligence Division. The Director. But this is S.R. Nathan we are talking about. He wasn’t going to just send a team in. The man led by example. He volunteered to go.

3) He didn’t get to finish school before he had to start working.

What is your excuse? Too difficult to manage work and study? S.R Nathan had to start working before he could finish school but is something like a war going to throw Mr Nathan off his tracks? No way. After the war, he completed his secondary education via distance learning with Oxford while working. Yes you read that right. Before computers were even a thing, Mr Nathan completed his secondary school education via a correspondence course. He then went on to graduate with a Diploma in Social Studies with a distinction in 1954 from the University of Malaya. So again, what’s your excuse?

4) He made mistakes too.

Mr. Nathan made mistakes growing up too, but they did not stop him from having an illustrious career his whole life. Sure, it may sound like your typical rags-to-riches story, but why is this story different? He didn’t care for being rich. After his father committed suicide when he was 8, Mr. Nathan went wayward for a couple of years, running away from home, getting expelled for school, even living on the streets for awhile. Eventually he would find work as an office boy and drift from job to job, working as a postman, a hawker’s assistant and even a tuition teacher. He had help along the way, and this was probably the reason why he saw how important it was to help others less fortunate. He learnt it first hand. There are many many stories of how Mr. Nathan helped his colleagues and friends to put their kids through school and find them jobs upon graduation.

5) He started the President’s Challenge.

In 2000, he started the President’s Challenge and in 11 years, it had raised more than S$100 million. More than 500 organizations are beneficiaries. He also co-founded SINDA.

6) He had to be asked to be a Presidential Candidate.

The Late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and several others had to ask Mr. Nathan to run for office. Everyone says he only became President because he was the only candidate. We think he became President because everyone unanimously agreed he was the right man for the job.

7) The next time you hear somebody say S.R Nathan was a useless fella, you can refer this list of accolades to them.

Career timeline
1940–1941: Office boy and various odd jobs
Feb 1955–Mar 1956: Almoner, Medical Department, Singapore General Hospital
Mar 1956–1962: Seamen’s Welfare Officer, Marine Department
Jan 1962–Jan 1964: Assistant director, Labour Research Unit
Jan 1964–Jan 1966: Director, Labour Research Unit
Jan 1966–Apr 1988: Member, board of trustees, Labour Research Unit
Feb 1966–Jan 1971: Assistant secretary; later deputy secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jan 1971–Aug 1971: Acting permanent secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
Aug 1971–Feb 1979: Director, Security and Intelligence Division, Ministry of Defence
1973–1986: Chairman, Mitsubishi Singapore Heavy Industries (Pte) Ltd
Feb 1979–Feb 1982: First permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1980–1988: Director, Singapore National Oil Company
1982–1988: Director, New Nation Publishing Bhd
1982–1988: Director, Times Publishing Bhd
Jan 1982–May 1983: Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board
Feb 1982– Apr 1988: Executive Chairman, Straits Times Press (1975) Ltd, and concurrently director of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd from December 1985 to April 1988
1983–1988: Director, Times Business Publications Ltd
1983–1988: Director, Singapore Mint Pte Ltd, London
May 1983–Apr 1988: Chairman, Hindu Endowments Board
1984–1988: Director, The Times of Singapore Pte Ltd
1985–1988: Director, Marshall Cavendish Ltd
1986–1988: Director, The Straits Times Press (London) Ltd
1986–1988: Director, The Times Press Foundation (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Aug 1991–Aug 1999: Founding member and term trustee of Singapore Indian Development Association
Apr 1988–Jul 1990: High commissioner to Malaysia
Jul 1990–Jun 1996: Ambassador to the United States
1996–1999: Director, Singapore International Media Pte Ltd
Jul 1996: Appointed pro-chancellor, National University of Singapore
Jul 1996–Aug 1999: Ambassador-at-large
Jul 1996–Aug 1999: Director, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (now known as the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies), Nanyang Technological University
1997–1999: Member, board of governors, Civil Service College
1 Sep 1999–31 Aug 2011: President of Singapore; concurrently chancellor, National University of Singapore

“I’ve done the best I can. If it’s good enough for some people, fine. If it’s not good enough for some people, and there will always be noise in the environment, you can’t stop it. You don’t do it because you want to leave a legacy. You do the best you can.” – S. R. Nathan

You did Sir. You were outstanding.

#WeAreMajulah

Source: Syabab SG

August 25, 2016
Osman Sulaiman: PAP Must Stop Using Malay Community As Political Pawn, Cease Affirmative Actions

If the PAP thinks that a Malay president is important periodically, and has always been confident of its party’s credibility and branding, then it should support a Malay candidate to contest in the coming presidential election as how it supported Tony Tan in the last election.

Often times, the ones who made the Malays feel that they are of sub-par quality is the PAP itself. Creating GRCs and justifying it that without GRCs, a Malay candidate cannot stand on its own worthiness.

GRCs were introduced in 1988. It was the last election that a Malay candidate stands in an SMC under the PAP banner. Mr Abdullah Tarmugi contested in Siglap SMC and garnered 73.7% of the popular votes. One of the highest achievers among the slates of candidates being fielded by PAP. It definitely showed no signs that a non-Chinese candidate cannot stand on its own merits.

After the 1988 general election, no other PAP Malay candidates contested in an SMC. Between then and now, the PAP continues with its narrative that a Malay candidate cannot win an election in a Chinese majority electorate.

I remembered when Masagos was promoted to a ministerial position, the PAP highlighted that the promotion reflected the progress of the Malays. It simply meant that the promotion was given on account that the community now deserves to have a minister while previously it didn’t as we are considered second best as compared to the non-Malays.

Today, the PAP again uses the Malay community as a pawn for its political agenda. Knowing how close the results of the last presidential election between its endorsed candidate and the independent candidate Dr Tan Cheng Bock (TCB), the PAP is playing the racial cards again by tugging at the heart strings of the Malay community.

It seems that it now wants a Malay figurehead to counter the possibility of Dr TCB winning the presidential election. And rules have to be tweaked to accommodate this.

I will be elated if ever we were to have a Malay president again after Yusof Ishak. But there will be no honour in winning a contest when the favours are heavily tilted for a certain individual/race to win it. And when indeed a Malay president is elected under those conditions, then it will further affirm the unfounded theory that the Malay community cannot stand on its own calibre.

I would rather we secure the presidential role fair and square. The PAP will need to walk the talk rather than just paying lip service. If it values the contribution of the Malay community and treats everyone as equal, show it by supporting a Malay candidate without tinkering with the system. The Malay community doesn’t need charity of this kind.

The principle that all citizens are equal, regardless of race or religion, means we have to do away with affirmative actions.

Source: Khan Osman Sulaiman

August 25, 2016
Mrs Umi Nathan: I Hope Singaporeans Remember My Husband As A Self-Made Man

When I first met S R Nathan, I was very young – so young I can’t remember him as a small child. But I remember him vividly when we were both in our teens. He would cycle up and down the street to catch my eye, when my family lived in a shophouse in Muar.

I didn’t realise it then, but after 16 years of trials and tribulations, I would be rewarded with the happiest day of my life, the day I married him.

My husband has always worked. I am used to it, and I find it difficult to imagine a time when he is not going out each day dressed for the office and carrying a briefcase. On more than one occasion, I thought he had reached the end of a successful career and could look forward to retirement. Each time a new call has come and he has responded. We both feel that in answering the summons we are repaying a debt to Singapore, and also more personally to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who has always been willing to put trust in my husband. I am also aware that, like many people of our age, if he were sitting around the house with nothing to do, he would soon go downhill. His mind has to be active.

If anyone had ever suggested that one day my husband would be President, I would have responded with utter disbelief. And yet the challenge came, and the day he was appointed was the proudest day of my life. It was a blessing from God. When the possibility was put to him, he consulted the family and we all supported him in accepting. My only condition was that the family should be kept out of the public eye. After all, status is only temporary, and we must all keep our feet on the ground.

I hope Singaporeans will remember my husband as a self-made man. He started out with nothing, literally, and reached his lofty position through ability and hard work. There is a lesson in his story for all young people, however competitive the world may seem.

Mrs Umi Nathan

Source: S R Nathan: An Unexpected Journey – Path To The Presidency

August 25, 2016
Cleaners, Wardens Pick Up After Hougang Pokemon Crowd

The disamenities caused by Pokemon Go players surging to Block 401 Hougang Avenue 10 in recent weeks have led to stepped up cleaning of common areas there.

In addition, to deal with players who have been parking indiscriminately, parking wardens were also “hard at work over the weekend”, said Hougang Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) in a Facebook post on Sunday.

The area has been one of the hotspots for Pokemon hunting since the game was launched in Singapore earlier this month. Littering and illegal or indiscriminate parking have been raised as concerns by residents, alongside other problems such as  jaywalking.

Hougang NPC wrote that it had previously alerted both the Land Transport Authority and the Housing and Development Board regarding these concerns.

“To alleviate the problem of indiscriminate parking within the car park, HDB enforcement officers were hard at work over the weeked,” it said. “We urge all gamers who drive there to park their vehicles in the appropriate lots. Indiscriminate parking may pose issues or even dangers to other car park users.”

Hougang NPC also said the National Environment Agency and the town council have stepped up their cleaning of the area, but urged everyone to play their part in keeping the environment clean.

It added: “The police will continue to work with the relevant agencies to ensure a pleasant environment for all, even as residents and gamers alike indulge in the Pokemon phenomenon.”

Apart from ungracious behaviour, there have been nastier incidents involving the popular game.

Last Tuesday, for instance, the police said it made the first arrests relating to Pokemon hunting here over an altercation between a motorist and a player who was on the game while crossing the road.

The motorist had sounded his horn at the player and they came to blows after that, the police said in a news release. The incident happened at the car park entrance of Plaza Singapura on Aug 14.

The men, aged 28 and 33, were arrested on the spot for affray, which carries the maximum penalty of one year in jail and/or a fine of S$5,000.

Source: TODAY Online

August 24, 2016
Jail For Man Who Sped Off From Tuas Checkpoint With Illegal Imports Of ‘Ramly’ Beef Patties

The owner of a struggling car grooming company turned to importing traditional cakes and pastries from Malaysia to help support his 10 children during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, a court heard on Monday (Aug 22).

Mohamed Dawood R.M. Abdul Sukkur, 48, who also owns a food distribution company, even worked part-time as a driver with ride-hailing service Uber to make ends meet.

But afraid that he would get caught for unlawfully importing nearly 40kg of “Ramly” beef patties without a licence, the businessman sped off from an inspection pit at Tuas Checkpoint in June 2015 – during the first week of Ramadan – sparking off a two-hour manhunt.

On Monday (Aug 22), Dawood was jailed for nine months and fined $8,000 for a spate of crimes. He will also be barred from driving for three years after his release from prison.

He pleaded guilty to four charges: obstructing a customs officer, perverting the course of justice, importing a meat product without a licence and dangerous driving.

Four other charges were taken into consideration in sentencing: one count of failing to make a declaration on dutiable goods, one charge of importing processed food without registration, and two counts of having cigarettes that had not passed through customs.

A district court heard that on June 23, 2015, Dawood drove to Malaysia at about 7am in a rented black BMW car to collect traditional cakes and pastries to supply to shops in Singapore.

He also went to a supermarket in Bandar Baru, Johor, to buy 105 packets of Ramly beef patties, weighing about 37.8kg in total, for RM400. He wanted to sell them to night market shops in Woodlands for a profit.

Dawood hid the beef patties in the spare tire compartment of the car and reached Tuas Checkpoint at about 11.35am.

After he had cleared immigration, however, ICA officers found discrepancies in Dawood’s goods import permit and directed him to a full inspection pit for further checks.

He nodded his head to acknowledge this instruction. However, as he was driving towards the pit, he realised officers would discover that he had brought in the beef patties without a licence, the court heard.

“(Dawood) thus decided not to comply …. Instead, he stepped hard on the car accelerator and sped off out of Tuas Checkpoint,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Mansoor Amir.

After he left the checkpoint, Dawood travelled at about 142kmh along Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim towards Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), and then at about 172kmh along the AYE towards the slip road to the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE).

Dawood drove at about 88kmh on the slip road, and at about 140kmh on the PIE from Tuas Road to Pasir Laba Flyover towards the East Coast Parkway, and then at about 90kmh from the flyover to PIE exit 38.

The car broke down at about 12.20pm along the PIE towards Changi Airport, near Pioneer Road North exit 38 and the entrance of Nanyang Technological University.

“Aware that the police would soon catch up to him and that the Ramly beef patties would incriminate him, (Dawood) thus disposed of the 105 packets of Ramly beef patties after his vehicle had broken down, before the police arrived,” said DPP Mansoor. The businessman threw them away into an open drain along the PIE towards Changi Airport before PIE exit 38.

Policemen arrested Dawood when they arrived. Among other things, they found 145 boxes or packets of assorted traditional cakes and pastries weighing a total of 200kg, some of which were on the grass verge next to the car while others were inside the vehicle.

Dawood later led officers to the open drain where he had thrown the beef patties.

DPP Mansoor asked for eight to 10 months’ jail and a fine of about $10,000. He also asked for a five-year driving ban.

Defence lawyer Noor Mohamed Marican asked for “a minimal fine” instead.

He said: “(Dawood) has realised his mistake and is remorseful. … He is the sole breadwinner of his family and single-handedly maintaining 10 children.

“He is self-employed in the car grooming business and earns a low income because his business is struggling to survive amidst heavy competition. During the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, he usually imports traditional cakes and pastries to sell in Singapore, and makes a small profit to help sustain his family,” said Mr Marican.

The lawyer added that Dawood panicked and drove out of the checkpoint in “a momentary lapse of judgment”.

In sentencing, District Judge Lee Poh Choo said: “Entrepreneurship is encouraged but this is certainly not the way to go about it. From start to end, you contravened the law. The manner you kept the (patties) – hiding them in the spare tyre – would have caused health problems.”

For obstructing a customs officer, Dawood could have been fined $10,000 and jailed for 18 months.

For perverting the course of justice, he could have been jailed for seven years and fined.

The maximum penalty for importing a meat product without a licence is a $50,000 fine and two years’ jail for a first conviction, and subsequently, a $100,000 fine and three years’ jail.

The maximum punishment for dangerous driving is a $3,000 and 12 months’ jail for a first conviction, and subsequently, a $5,000 fine and two years’ jail.

Source: The Straits Times

August 24, 2016