Tag: Singapore

Rat Problems In Bedok South?

Residents at a cluster of blocks in Bedok South Avenue 3 are worried that their area may become “the next Bukit Batok hill” if the growing number of rats there is left unchecked.

Many rodents have been spotted around blocks 69 to 72 in the past year. Some residents said they have seen swarms of 20 rats scampering around in a carpark at night.

In December, a hilly area near Bukit Batok MRT station was infested by rats. This was blamed on leftover scraps from the indiscriminate feeding of stray dogs. More than 300 rats there were killed by pest controllers over two weeks.

Bedok South residents who spoke to The Straits Times suggested several possible causes – a nearby garbage collection point and a food disposal area near a coffee shop in Block 69.

East Coast Town Council (ECTC) said it was alerted to the rise in rat numbers by conservancy workers and residents last week, and has since taken measures to control the pests.

Mr Adrian Theseira, managing director of Wipeout Pest Control Services, which is leading the extermination exercise, said it has found more than 30 rat burrows and nests across blocks 69 to 72.

As of Monday night, it caught 38 rodents using traps in areas such as drains and rubbish chutes. The rats caught were killed. Since last Thursday, pest controllers have also placed poison in rat burrows.

On Monday night, The Straits Times spotted more than 10 burrows, two live rats and a dead one on the pavement next to the coffee shop.

An ECTC spokesman said residents can expect to see rat carcasses in the area during the exercise, which will last until early next month. Residents are advised to call the town council so it can send workers to remove the carcasses.

She also urged residents to help control the rat population by eliminating food sources, possibly scraps left over from the feeding of stray cats and pigeons.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said it received several complaints about rats around Block 70 late last month. Inspections found 16 burrows and rat droppings in a bin centre and two food shops, which have since been given warnings.

Its officers have spoken to the owners and occupiers of the shops on proper waste disposal.

NEA also said it is working with the town council to step up estate cleaning and maintenance of the rubbish chutes

The Straits Times understands that a metal disposal container was installed this year at the Food Park food court to improve its waste management. Before that, scraps went into pails without lids.

Mr John Teo, 70, who lives in Bedok South’s Block 69, said the rat population grew in the last eight months. The taxi driver, who watches television with his friends at Food Park every night, added: “In the last two to three months, there are smaller ones appearing, which means they are breeding.”

Another resident, Mr Tan Teck Chin, 47, said: “It’s a bit uncomfortable to eat and see rats so near.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

April 8, 2015
Revised Registers Of Electors Certified, Open For Public Inspection

The revised registers of electors have been certified and are now open for public inspection.

In a statement today, the Elections Department revealed that there are a total of 2,460,484 voters on the rolls.

Eligible voters may check their particulars at the Elections Department or at community centres with their NRIC or passport, or online at the Elections Department website.

Those overseas can also check their particulars at the 10 overseas missions that serve as overseas registration centres.

People whose names were removed from the voter rolls because they failed to vote at a previous election may continue to apply to have their names restored, the Elections Department said.

Meanwhile, eligible voters who are overseas, and who have resided in Singapore for at least 30 days between Feb 1, 2012 and Jan 31, 2015, may register as overseas electors to vote at a designated overseas polling station.

With the revision to the rolls, Singaporeans overseas who had previously registered as overseas voters will also need to re-register.

The Elections Department added that those applying to restore their names to the rolls or to register as an overseas voter should do so early, as applications will close when the Writ of Election is issued.

Source: http://news.asiaone.com

April 8, 2015
Two Men Involved In Istana Protest Reveal Why They Did It

Background Story: PROTESTERS SEEN HOLDING PLACARDS OUTSIDE THE ISTANA TODAY

TRS got in contact with the two men who were involved in the peaceful protest outside the Istana on Saturday afternoon and found out why they chose to do what they did despite knowing that they would be arrested. They shared that they wanted to exercise their constitutional rights and believe strongly that they have not disturbed public order.

Here is what they wanted to tell the public about their peaceful protest:

We are the two men who held the demonstration outside the gates of the Istana on the 4th April 2015. You can simply address us as X and Y. Our names are irrelevant, but not our cause. Martyrdom is not the goal. We apologise if the subject of the protest (Freedom of Speech for Singaporeans) was not very clear. It was intentionally vague so as to sidestep any unnecessary charges that could be pinned on us by the Authorities; such as Libel/Defamation.

The both of us are Singaporeans, and not FTs (as some of you have speculated). We do not represent any political party, nor are we affiliated with any groups/organisations. Who we are, are simply two men who believe there has been Injustice done towards those who offered a differing opinion and dared to raise questions considered to be “touchy”.

Let us clarify: We are not anti LKY. We take our hats off to him, and appreciate all that he has done for Singapore; giving his life in creating a “safe”, prosperous nation and environment for us to thrive in. However, for far too long, dissent has been dealt with very severely, and sometimes, downright inhumanely. We believe in Change, and correcting Injustice wherever we see it.

The defamation suit against Mr Roy Ngerng was ridiculous. He simply raised questions on the behalf of the citizens of Singapore. Instead of getting a proper, well structured reply from the relevant authorities, he was dealt with by a lawsuit, and subsequently fired from his job in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Ruining a person’s life when he simply asks questions (not for his own sake, no less) seems to be the norm in Singapore. Is this not Injustice? Should we turn a blind eye to this?

We also refer to the action taken on Mr Amos Yee. While we do think that the commentary was vulgar, rude, and frankly, a little insensitive (given the time); we do not see the need for him to be brought to court. Any sane society would have challenged all his points based on the facts and opinions he presented (in the video), and negated the points of his arguments with sound logic and reasoning. Instead, we as a society has chosen to shy away from the difficult questions raised, and opted to cower behind the might of the SPF.

To be subjugated to arrest for airing an opinion (unpopular as it is) borders on the unthinkable. When someone takes office, they sign all rights to privacy away. They become a Public Figure, subject to the scrutinity of everyone. Such is the burden of representing the People. It is only logical that if tributes and praise flow free; so should criticism and insult.

Some have questioned us why did we not go through the “proper” channels (such as Speaker’s Corner in Hong Lim Park). The appointment of a “place to speak” seems as if the park was designated to be a “dumping ground” for dissent, masquerading as a “designated place” for “Freedom of Expression”. What Change was there to be had if this was the case? Why should Singaporeans be confined to the space of Hong Lim Park? Is this truly “Freedom of Expression” then? We think not. It is perfectly within our rights in the Constitution (Article 14) to hold a peaceful demonstration, anywhere in Singapore.

14.— (1) Subject to clauses (2) and (3) —

(a) every citizen of Singapore has the right to freedom of speech and expression;

(b) all citizens of Singapore have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms; and

(c) all citizens of Singapore have the right to form associations.

The action that we took on the 4th of April 2015 was our right as stated in the Singapore Constitution. It did not cause disruption of the Public Order, defame anyone nor incited any form of civil unrest. We knew being arrested would be a given (and we were willing to shoulder that to make a statement), but the extent of it eluded us.

Following our arrest, we were detained for a day by the Police. Both of us were brought in restraints to our homes. Electronic devices like desktop CPUs and handphones were seized for investigation.

The right/wrong of our action, although open for debate, is not the point. The red we wore was to signify Change. So long as it sparked Singaporeans questioning what Freedom truly means to them, then our objective has been reached. Whoever is in Power (the ruling party) matters not to us; it could be the PAP, the SDP, or the WP. That is immaterial. What matters, is that they realise that we are ready for Change as a society. If you equate Freedom with wanton acts of violence and instability, then you are sorely mistaken and have missed the point entirely.

Alejandro Jodorowsky – “Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness.”

X and Y

Source: www.therealsingapore.com

April 8, 2015
Filipino Ed Munsell Bello Ello Charged For Publishing Two Seditious Comments

The nurse who allegedly made anti-Singaporean comments on Facebook was charged on Tuesday with sedition and giving false information to the police.

Filipino Ed Mundsel Bello Ello, who was sacked by Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), faces two charges of publishing a seditious comment on his Facebook account and three of lying to the police.

The 28-year-old allegedly said Singaporeans are “loosers” (sic) and vowed to “evict” them from their country and prayed that “disators” (disasters) strike Singapore and then he would celebrate.

He ended by saying that “Pinoy better and stronger than Stinkaporeans” in his Jan 2 post.

He also allegedly commented in another post that evening that he would “kick out all Singaporeans and SG will be the new filipno state”.

The charges, under the Sedition Act, say the publications have the tendency to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between Singaporeans and Filipinos in Singapore.

Ello is accused of lying to the police at Chong Pang Neighbourhood Police Post the next day that he did not post the comments on Facebook.

On Jan 4, he is said to have lied to a senior officer at at Ang Mo Kio Police Division headquarters that he did not post those comments and that his Facebook account had been hacked.

The last charge accuses him of giving false information to the same officer on Jan 5.

Ello, who was not represented, told the court he would be engaging a lawyer.

Bail of $10,000 was offered and his passport has been impounded.

A pre-trial conference has been set for April 21.

If convicted, he could be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to three years on each charge of sedition.

For lying to the police, he could be jailed for up to one year and/or fined up to $5,000 on each charge.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

April 7, 2015
Hollywood Goes After Illegal Downloaders In Singapore

Those who illegally downloaded the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Dallas Buyers Club could soon get “pay up” letters for infringement of copyright.

The firm behind the movie, about the search for drugs to treat HIV in the mid 80s, has engaged a local law firm to send letters to several downloaders that had been identified, asking for a written offer of damages and costs.

It had earlier gone after illegal downloaders in the US and Australia after using a software programme to detect IP addresses in torrents.

The three local telcos confirmed that they received demands to reveal information of their subscribers.

They refused until court orders were issued to M1 and StarHub to compel them to do so. Singtel’s case is still before the courts.

Intellectual property and technology lawyer Han Wah Teng said illegal downloaders may have to pay the copyright owner up to $10,000 for statutory damages.

Source: www.tnp.sg

April 7, 2015