Tag: Singapore

Shanti Pereira Makes History With Gold In 200M

It would have taken a herculean effort for Veronica Shanti Pereira to sleep last night.

The 18-year-old probably still had adrenalin coursing through her veins after she created history at the National Stadium yesterday by winning gold in the SEA Games women’s 200m race, emulating Glory Barnabas’ feat from 42 years ago and setting a new national record of 23.60sec in the process.

Roared on by over 7,000 fans – many of whom probably also cheered her on when she won the bronze in the 100m a day earlier – Shanti powered home ahead of newly minted Asean 100m queen Kayla Richardson of the Philippines (23.71) and Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Oanh (23.92).

Almost an hour after her race, with most of the stadium empty, The New Paper asked her if she could feel the difference in weight between a gold and bronze medal when it was slung around her neck.

Her response was instinctive, immediate.

“You feel it here,” she said, raising her palm to her chest, where the Singapore flag was on her race attire.

She didn’t need to say much else.

It was clear she was bursting with pride after ending Singapore’s 42-year sprint gold-medal drought in at the SEA Games.

Shanti had announced herself as a contender for the 200m title after the morning heats, when she clocked 23.82 to better her previous national mark of 23.99 and advance to the final as the second-quickest qualifier, behind Filipina-American Richardson.

But the Republic Polytechnic leisure management student stole the show in the final.

Looking cool and relaxed in Lane 4 – she delivered a wink and a heart-shaped salute to her supporters when the pre-race introductions were made – Shanti burst out of the starting blocks and negotiated the curve with ease.

Neck and neck with Richardson with about 80m to go, she somehow found an extra gear to eventually finish over one-tenth of a second clear of her rival.

“The game plan was to have a really good start and not go so fast on the curve, just keep up with the person next to me, and hopefully I’d have more energy at the end,” explained Shanti.

“It (managing the curve) is the thing my coach has tried to work on the most.

“After the curve, I got a bit scared because the Malaysian girl (Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli, who finished sixth) was getting close to me, so I just decided to chiong (Hokkien for rush) ahead and it worked.”

The first person she embraced after crossing the finish line was her coach of six years, Margaret Oh.

EMOTIONAL

Oh, a former national sprinter, could not contain her emotions and wept tearfully as the two shared a special moment.

“Yesterday cry a bit, today cry like hell,” Oh said later.

The track coach at the Singapore Sports School said she knew a gold was on the way after seeing her young protege prepare for the race.

“The 200m is Shanti’s pet event, so there was no tension, no stress,” she said.

“Even during her warm-up for the final, I could see a difference from yesterday. That’s when I knew she would win the gold. But I didn’t tell her.

“I just reminded her to focus and not go too hard on the curve, if not she’ll have problems in the last 100m.”

Barnabas, who watched the race from the stands near the finish line, was filled with pride and backed Shanti to go on and make an impact in Asia.

She noted Shanti’s personal best times of 11.80 in the 100m and 23.60 in the 200m are not far from the bronze medal-winning times at last year’s Asian Games (11.50 in the 100m and 23.45 in the 200m).

“I think she can run her best times when she’s in her mid-20s or even 30s,” said Barnabas.

“After all, I did my two national records (in the 100m and 200m) in 1974, after I turned 30.”

Oh added: “Shanti turns only 19 this year and I haven’t given her a full adult training load. I’ve still been very conservative. Next year, we’ll see an even better Shanti.”

The teenager herself, meanwhile, was in dreamland.

Signing autographs and posing for wefies with her family, friends and supporters well after the victory ceremony, she said: “The future? I just want to improve my time, meet faster opponents and beat them.”

Singapore’s new sprint queen has delivered her warning. Now watch her go.

“I’m so glad she won. I’m so happy she broke the national record because its the only way we’ll progress. We cannot stagnate again.”

– Glory Barnabas

Source: www.tnp.sg

June 11, 2015
Thank You MINDEF, You Ensured That I Will Never Vote For PAP Again

dear a.s.s,

i am age 48, working overseas… i was an officer during my army days. my last reservist was in year 1999.

due to my age and medical condition, i recently downgraded to pes e.

for so many years, mindef never call me up for any reservist. suddenly today, i received a letter from mindef stating that i committed offence reg 27 enlistment regulation for not reporting for reservist?

nabei, really sian to the max.

i have been working overseas since year 2000, and then now they come and throw me this ****?

i served 30 months, got #2 best recruit, best platoon, went for airborne as nsf, ippt gold and marksman every year, did my reservist. now i am 48 yrs old – 2/3 of my body inside grave hole liao, still kena fine $100 for this **** regulation?

thank you mindef, thank you very much, you’re unbelievable.

want to post the letter here but maybe they will charge me for osa

i have asked my daughter to pay the $100 fine for me. they can take my 100… but they will never get my vote again, not from me, not from my kids, not from my grandkids

Angry Sinkie

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

June 10, 2015
My Honest Feedback On Cookhouse Food Not Received Well

I am from a camp located in the North. There was this cookhouse survey and I decided to give a ‘bad’ for it. Then there came a guy to tell me to fill in my particulars because I put an lousy.

The next day, the CO of the unit in charge of the cook house complained to my unit about it and I was called to my OC’s office and questioned for my feedback.

I could still remember vividly that my OC asked me if my mother was a chef and I was to write a statement about this incident and and explain my action.

I mean, if you only want ‘good’s or ‘very good’s, then what is the purpose of the survey? And if, after people give their opinion, you start throwing rank because the opinion is not up to your satisfaction, then what kind of image are you portraying as a regular?

Source: SAF Confessions

June 10, 2015
Netizens Slam Government’s New Video On CPF Life

Last September, the government set up the CPF Advisory Panel to review Singapore’s compulsory savings system – the Central Provident Fund (CPF). This February, the panel gave its recommendations which were accepted by the government [Link].

Summary of the main changes:

1. Lump sum withdrawal

A lump sum withdrawal, at age 65, of up to 20% of a CPF member’s savings. Members will be able to withdraw up to 20% of their Retirement Account, inclusive of the $5,000 that can already be withdrawn at age 55.

2. Adjustments to the Minimum Sum

CPF members have the option to park a Basic Retirement Sum of $80,500, a Full Retirement Sum of $161,000 or an Enhanced Retirement Sum of $241,500 at age 55. The monthly payouts at age 65 will range from $650 to $1,900. Members can also withdraw any amount above the Basic Retirement Sum, provided they have a property bought using CPF funds.

3. Longer Notice to the Adjustment of the Retirement Sum

The Basic Retirement Sum ($80,500 in 2016) will be increased by 3% yearly for members turning 55. The fixed percentage increase takes into account inflation and increase in standard of living, and at the same time provides members with lead notice. This is a demarcation from the current system where the Minimum Sum is only announced a few months in advance.

To help Singaporeans understand the new CPF Life plan better, the government created an example with an accompanying video. The video was uploaded on YouTube last month (19 May):

(Mr Bakar’s story) CPF – Your Assurance in Retirement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAzJWKdMNUM

“Like Mrs Ang, Mr Bakar will also be turning 55 next year. How will the recent CPF enhancements help him grow his retirement nest egg?”

The video is linked to a post on the Facebook page of Gov.sg:https://www.facebook.com/gov.sg/posts/10153249488473686.

However, netizens are not impressed with the video. Many are calling it “government propaganda” or “wayang”. Most netizens are demanding the government to return all their CPF money to them, as per the original agreement:

On YouTube, the comments were so bad that the government was forced to shut the comment section of the video:

Source: www.tremeritus.com

June 10, 2015
Kembali Ke Fitrah: Mengapa Alfian Sa’at Ambil Hati Nasihat Dari Zulfikar Shariff?

Salam admin,

Semalam Cik Zulfikar Shariff ada post di Fb nya satu nasihat yang datang dari Pergas sendiri. Dalam post itu juga Cik Zulfikar menasihati bahawa barang sesiapa yang menghadiri majlis bermaksiat harus berfikir akan akibatnya bila berdepan dengan Allah swt kelak. Dia menyeru mereka yang berniat untuk menghadiri majlis sedemikian untuk berdoa agar ajal mereka tidak tiba ketika melakukan sesuatu yang dimungkari Alla swt.

Pada pendapat saya, nasihat Cik Zulfikar tepat pada waktunya. Ianya satu peringatan bagi semua masyarakat Muslim supaya menjauhkan diri daripada kegiatan-kegiatan maksiat. Para ulama, guru-guru dan juga ibu-bapa, pada pendapat saya, juga memberi nasihat sedemekian.

Tetapi Alfian Sa’at tidak dapat terima nasihat dari Cik Zulfikar. Kita semua tahu mengapa sebenarnya Alfian tidak setuju. Tetapi apa salahnya seorang Muslim yang lebih pakar menasihati masyrakat umum yang mungkin, telah lupa akan dasar sebagai seorang Muslim.

Alfian juga menuduh Cik Zulfikar sengaja menakut-nakutkan masyarakat.

Memang betul kata Cik Zulfikar. Kalau kita fahami yang dunia ini sementara, kita akan melakukan yang sebaiknya untuk megejar pahala untuk akhirat nanti.

Mengapa Alfian tidak dapat makan nasihat? Mengapa harus ditindas nasihat kata-kata Cik Zulfikar itu? Sebagai seorang yang dikenali ramai lapisan masyarakat, Alfian mempunyai tanggungjawab menjadi contoh sebagai kepada anak-anak kita. Memang diakui, Alfian seorang yang tersohor dalam bidang teater. Namun, itu bukan bermaksud yang dia itu manusia serba sempurna, tiada dosa, dan mengetahui segalanya.

Alfian juga berpendapat agar Cik Zulfikar lebih konsisten dalam menggunakan peringatan tentang kematian dan akhirat bila memberi nasihat tentang segala yang dimungkar Allah swt. Permintaan itu melampau. Apa tujuannya? Atau mungkin Alfian sendiri akur akan ketepatan nasihat Cik Zulfikar?

Mungkin, hati Alfian belum terbuka. Kita sama-sama mendoakan agar suatu hari nanti, Alfian diberi petunjuk dan kembali ke fitrah.

Buat masa ini, saya harap anak-anak muda kita berfikir dengan lebih kritikal tentang isu LGBT ini, berlandaskan ajaran Islam. Jangan terikut-ikut sangat, biarpun kita kagumi bakat dan karya seseorang itu.

Nasihat untuk membina, bukan untuk menghancurkan.

Rashid

[Reader Contribution]

June 10, 2015