Tag: Singapore

Girl Sexually Assaulted At 14 By Boyfriend’s Godfather Finds It Hard To Trust Men

“Jasmine” was 14 when she was sexually assaulted by her boyfriend’s godfather. She had scoliosis, and the man claimed he could heal her.

He asked her to go to his flat in Bukit Merah, then told her to take a shower before the “healing session”. He gave her two pills which she took. Then he took off her clothes and underwear.

Now 27, she still remembers how she fell into a deep slumber. But not before he started touching her inappropriately, claiming that what he was doing was “for her own good”.

When she woke up four hours later, she felt sore in her lower body, but thought it was all part of the “healing”. “I didn’t know then what sex was, or what rape was,” she told The Sunday Times.

It was only at the age of 17 that she decided to see a counsellor at her polytechnic.

She also told her mother, who did not take her seriously. She did not seek professional help beyond her counsellor, and believes the abuse has affected her life.

She finds it hard to trust the opposite sex, and prefers relationships with married men.

“I’m a bad woman and I know people judge me but I don’t really care. I don’t want to put myself in a position of vulnerability. It makes me feel empowered when I use men for sex. They deserve it.”

She is estranged from her family, and admits that what hurts the most is not getting support from those who are supposed to be closest to her. “I know what my lifestyle now is not healthy. But I guess I have not moved on from the abuse.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 24, 2015
Good Ministers Can Advanced Singapore’s Interest Abroad

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan and Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say were singled out by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as examples of how good ministers can advance Singapore’s interests abroad.

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December last year, Dr Balakrishnan not only represented Singapore, but took on the role of an “honest broker” to bridge gaps among different countries to put together a deal agreeable to all, said Mr Lee.

On top of Dr Balakrishnan’s competence, his effectiveness in excelling at the role was aided by the support from a strong and cohesive team of officials from different ministries. And Team Singapore helped the conference reach a successful outcome and advanced the Republic’s interests in the process, Mr Lee said.

He also recounted how Mr Lim turned around the “miserable mood” during a dinner discussion among labour ministers at the International Labour Organisation Conference (ILO) in Geneva this year. In a manner that “only Swee Say knew how”, Mr Lee said — in reference to Mr Lim’s inimitable style — the Manpower Minister first acknowledged the common challenges faced by various countries, then talked about the kinds of opportunities that all countries wanted. Mr Lim then seized on the opportunity to share about the importance of strong tripartite relationships in achieving the desired solutions, based on Singapore’s unique approach.

“When Swee Say had finished, the mood in the room had lifted. Everyone was discussing solutions and not moping. The (ILO) director general … proposed ‘Three cheers for Singapore’.”

Both ministers, he said, demonstrate the quality of leadership the Republic must maintain as it strengthens the economy and defence so Singapore can hold its own on the global stage.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 24, 2015
MUIS Kaji Pemantauan Perkukuh Skim Bantu Keluarga Susah

Buat pertama kalinya, Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) sedang menjalankan satu kajian pemantauan lima tahun bagi memperkukuh lagi Skim Pengupayaan Sepadu (EPS).

Ia sebahagian daripada usaha mempertingkat keberkesanan EPS dalam membantu keluarga yang memerlukan.

Ini didedahkan Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam Dr Yaacob Ibrahim di majlis meraikan kejayaan kohort kelima peserta skim tersebut petang tadi.

Diperkenalkan pada 2004, EPS merupakan wadah membantu keluarga-keluarga memerlukan agar berupaya keluar dari lingkaran kemiskinan.

Sejauh ini MUIS membelanjakan lebih $4.2 juta untuk program-program EPS termasuk latihan peningkatan kemahiran ibu bapa serta geran pendidikan anak-anak.

“Selain dari program EPS, MUIS juga mengagihkan bantuan kewangan bulanan, bonus Ramadan dan bonus akhir tahun untuk para penerima zakat, yang mana ramai memerlukan bantuan jangka panjang seperti warga emas dan pesakit kronik.

“Bagi golongan ini, MUIS juga membantu dengan mengadakan sokongan daripada para Pendamping atau ‘Befrienders’ yang bukan sahaja dapat menziarahi mereka tetapi lebih penting memberi sokongan moral,” ujar Dr Yaacob.

Hari ini, seramai 95 graduan berjaya menamatkan skim EPS yang kelima.

Salah seorang daripada graduan itu ialah Suhana Anvaruhuk, seorang ibu tunggal yang berjaya menamatkan program WSQ Sijil Perkhidmatan Spa, lalu mendapatkan pekerjaan tetap sebagai terapis urut.

“Saya alu-alukan untuk semua di bawah skim bantuan kewangan, golongan ibu tunggal untuk menyertai kursus ini, ia benar-benar membantu kita dalam pelbagai cara. Jangan putus asa dalam kehidupan, salah satunya skim EPS akan membantu,” ujar Cik Suhana.

Sejauh ini, seramai 595 individu daripada 847 keluarga sudahpun berupaya berdikari dan tidak bergantung lagi kepada bantuan bulanan zakat MUIS.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

August 24, 2015
Lee Hsien Loong: Price To Pay For Every Decision Made On Foreign Worker Issue

The issue of immigration and foreigners was cited by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday (Aug 23) as one of the “tough” issues that will come up from time to time, and for which the Government would need Singaporeans’ support to deal with.

Singaporeans understandably have strong views on the issue and the Government has adjusted its policies, but there are no easy choices. Every option chosen by the Government has a cost and a downside, said Mr Lee, as he laid out the different scenarios. If Singapore closes its doors to foreign workers, firms will not have enough workers. Some will close down and Singaporeans working in these companies will lose their jobs. Foreign workers are also needed to build homes and schools here and, in the case of domestic workers, to meet Singaporeans’ daily needs.

However, if the country lets in too many foreign workers, society will “come undone”, Mr Lee said.

Singaporeans will be crowded out, workplaces will feel foreign, the Singapore identity will be diluted. Singapore has to find something in between but even then, there is a trade-off, he said.

Companies will still find costs going up, and they have to pass on some of this to consumers. They will also have to pass up opportunities. Yet, because there will be some foreign workers coming in, Singaporeans will still feel that the country is changing too fast, and resent having to compete with non-Singaporeans.

“It is my responsibility … to make this judgment. And then to act on your behalf … Having acted on your behalf, to account to you for the results and for the reasons I decided the way I did.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 24, 2015
Isu Di Malaysia Boleh Bawa Kesan Kepada Singapura

Masyarakat dan ekonomi Singapura dan Malaysia saling bergantung rapat antara satu sama lain.

Disebabkan pergantungan tersebut, masalah Malaysia dengan mudah boleh menjadi masalah Singapura, kata Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong.

“Jika Malaysia mengalami masalah, tidak mantap atau berpecah-belah, ia akan menjejas ekonomi kita, masyarakat kita dan keselamatan kita juga,” jelas Encik Lee.

Justeru, Perdana Menteri berkata Singapura memantau dengan dekat apa jua perkembangan yang berlaku di Malaysia.

Encik Lee menggariskan beberapa masalah dan isu yang menjadi kebimbangan utama Malaysia.

Pertama, sesetengah rakyat Malaysia menjadi radikal termasuk beberapa anggota pasukan bersenjatanya.

Sesetengahnya telah pergi ke Timur Tengah bagi menyertai pertempuran militan Negara Islam di Iraq dan Syria (ISIS) di sana dan apabila mereka pulang, mereka akan membawa ideologi pengganasan itu bersama ke tanah air.

Kedua, Malaysia juga bimbang tentang ketegangan kaum dan agama.

Masyarakat boleh berpecah-belah dengan mengikut sentimen perkauman.

Insiden rusuhan di Plaza Low Yat antara orang Cina dan Melayu misalnya boleh menegangkan isu sentimen perkauman.

Ketiga, Malaysia juga bimbang tentang isu politik wang.

Isu 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) menjadi bahan berita setiap hari.

Encik Lee juga berkata Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak baru menubuhkan sebuah panel nasional bagi membangunkan undang-undang mengenai “pembiayaan politik dengan kewibawaan”.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

August 24, 2015