Rilek1Corner

Tag: Singaporeans

  • Body Found In Water Beside Sengkang Riverside Park; Family Of Victim Had Posted About Him Missing Since Yesterday

    Body Found In Water Beside Sengkang Riverside Park; Family Of Victim Had Posted About Him Missing Since Yesterday

    A body was found in the water beside Sengkang Riverside Park on Friday (Sept 29) morning.

    Reader Elsie Soh told The Straits Times that her husband was passing by the area at 7.20am when he saw some police officers.

    When The Straits Times arrived at the scene just before 9.30am, a tent used by police to cover bodies was placed along a cycling and jogging track across the canal from Sengkang Riverside Park, near Sengkang Sports Centre.

    A police cordon stretching about 300m had been set up.

    Ms Joy Perez, 34, a housewife living nearby, said she was turned away from the cordon while jogging at about 8am and had to make a big detour into the residential areas which are a few hundred metres away.  Other track users were being turned away as well.

    On Facebook, it turns out that the family had been searching for the victim since last night. They posted online to appeal for information on the victim who was last seen at about 8pm and was in the vicinity of 281B Sengkang East Avenue.

    One James Ang on Facebook wrote, “My brother is missing since yesterday 8pm. Last seen yesterday 8plus @ 281B Sengkang East Avenue wearing black shirt and navy bermudas. Please help to share around and PM if any saw him anywhere.. appreciated all of your help as we are really worried about him.”

    At 10.41am today (29 Sept) one Angela Ang wrote on her timeline, “Thanks for sharing everyone. Dont have to further share. My brother’s body has been found. He is not missing. He is gone. Gone forever. He just leave us like that, without a word. Rest in peace my brother. 谢谢大家关心和帮忙。不用再分享了。他的尸体以被发现了。他不是不见，是走了。。。永远的离开我们了。。。弟弟，你一路走好！”

    Our condolences to the family of the victim. RIP

     

    Rilek1Corner

  • Commentary: Are Authorities Taking The ‘Mystery Smell Haze’ Incident Seriously With Terror Attacks Rampant Around The World?

    Commentary: Are Authorities Taking The ‘Mystery Smell Haze’ Incident Seriously With Terror Attacks Rampant Around The World?

    It was disappointing to hear the authorities here say that they were not able to establish what the mystery smell, which was detected in several parts of Singapore on Monday.

    Singaporeans were left to speculate as to where it might have originated from.

    The noxious “vapour cloud” was widespread, observable to the naked eye, persistent and, reportedly, carried slowly across the island without significant dissipation in strength or coverage.

    Breathing in the polluted air produced discomfort, including dryness in the throat, eye irritation and headache. I can personally attest to this.

    Many others must share my disappointment that the teams sent by the Singapore Civil Defence Force to investigate could only declare that they “have not detected the presence of toxic industrial chemicals in the air”.

    National Environment Agency officers presumably found nothing either, given the agency’s statement that “air quality levels during the period were found to be well within safety limits”.

    This is despite thousands of people seeing the smoke, being adversely affected and becoming more than a little alarmed.

    Something is wrong either with our senses or the agencies’ test equipment and investigation protocols.

    Surely, with all the talk on terror attacks, incidents like this should be viewed more seriously.

     

    Source: Chia Ping Kheong (http://www.straitstimes.com)

  • Commentary: I Think Halimah Has What It Takes To Be People’s President

    Commentary: I Think Halimah Has What It Takes To Be People’s President

    I can understand the unhappiness expressed by some Singaporeans with the Presidential Election, as they felt that they had been deprived of a choice (Hundreds protest against reserved Presidential Election; Sept 16, online).

    A contest would have been good, as it would have given Singaporeans the opportunity to vote for someone they believe in, who can represent them on the world stage.

    With the decision made, however, perhaps we can now give Mdm Halimah Yacob a chance to prove herself.

    A dynamic politician or leader is one who shows empathy and is willing to speak out on an issue, no matter how thorny it is. To the best of my knowledge, Mdm Halimah is one such person.

    During her tenure as a union leader, Minister of State and Member of Parliament, she often spoke up for workers’ welfare and supported the marginalised in our society.

    While I was a volunteer for six months with Club Heal, a voluntary welfare organisation helping Muslims and other Singaporeans with mental health issues, I could see that she felt for those facing adversities in life.

    Despite her busy schedule, she found time to attend Club Heal’s events and mingle with patients and their family members.

    She is a people person, as she is humble and mixes with Singaporeans from all walks of life.

    I am confident that with her positive energy, she will also become the people’s President.

    The two other applicants had mentioned that they wanted to serve all Singaporeans, but were disappointed not to have been able to contest the election. They can still serve Singapore by considering setting up a charity each to help the needy.

     

    Source: Raymond Anthony Fernando from http://www.todayonline.com

     

  • Commentary: Tharman’s Six Principles Of Political Communication That’s So Sigh Pie

    Commentary: Tharman’s Six Principles Of Political Communication That’s So Sigh Pie

    Off the top of my head, Tharman’s six principles of political communication:

    1. Timing: Wait till the worst of the storm of public dissatisfaction blows over. Don’t go into the thick of it. Wait for heads to cool.

    2. Deflate the elephant: Point to the elephant in the room, acknowledge it, and everyone goes “finally!”. Tension is released. Elephant gets smaller, people can breathe easier.

    3. I am one of you: Acknowledge and even agree with the sentiments on the ground, then reframe to “in spite of this… must recognise reality… and so must do that”. Classic rhetorical technique. Throw in own background of activist etc. for added legitimacy.

    4. Be general: He said he doesn’t agree with every tactic of everyone of his colleague. Broad obvious statement. In a large org like PAP that’s bound to happen.

    But this allows people to fill in what they *think* he means. Or what they *want to believe* cos he’s likeable. Still, people may not be wrong, but it gives wiggle room should the need ever arise in another context.

    5. Provide hope: Things are better now than before. We will continue to be better. Let’s work towards that.

    6. Be likeable: People listen to you cos they like you. This factor anchors all the above.

    Also, he didn’t comment on the process, and the legitimacy of a president who came into office with so much controversy on the ground. Does the President really have a mandate then? Maybe no one asked. And why should he bring it up of his own accord?

    Skilfully done. All the more’s the reason I think he should be the next PM. (#TharmanForPM!) But oh well’s, we’re not ready for a non-Chinese PM and he has ruled himself out. Sigh pie.

     

    Source: Md Suhaile

  • Commentary: Why Are Some Malays Proud Of The Outcome Of A Clearly Tainted Process? What Are We Exactly Proud Of?

    Commentary: Why Are Some Malays Proud Of The Outcome Of A Clearly Tainted Process? What Are We Exactly Proud Of?

    It troubles me that some segments in the Malay community celebrate President Halimah’s selection as a victory for the Malays.

    I am perplexed.

    What are we exactly proud of?

    Yes, Madam Halimah is a good person – I will readily admit to this. But to me, the process is of equal, if not greater importance.

    Here, a Malay president was installed only because it was a reserved election. And there was no election – because there was only one candidate who was deemed to be qualified.

    There was no level playing field.

    And so a good person, President Halimah, is tainted by a faulty process.

    The reserved presidential (non)-election has only brought about resentment and controversy (even as admitted by GCT and Tharman).

    And so, why are some Malays proud of the outcome of a clearly tainted process?

    Some Malays even suggest that those who are critical of the process leading to President Halimah’s selection as being racists, or motivated by purported political reasons.

    This is grossly misplaced. Singaporeans are entitled to feel upset. Even GCT and Tharman think so!

    In fact, a lot of Malays who are able to think critically are upset. Because now the perception that the community relies on a crutch is made stronger.

    But some Malays feel proud and stoutly defend a tainted process.

    Alas, this only serves to create discomfort on the part of other communities.

    We have become a community that not only relies on an affirmative action process, but now stoutly defend it.

    As if our existence and pride depends on it. Some even justify it on the basis that we have not had a President for 47 years.

    But if it not ours by merit, why take it?

    Kalau bukan hak kita, jangan di-ambil

    We conveniently forget our sacroscant principle of meritocracy.

    We choose to choose the easy way out and feel entitled instead.

    But where is our maruah as a community?

    It is hard to see any winners in this controversial (non)-election.

    If the concept of a presidential election has been divisive since its introduction, the eventual result of the election has only deepened those fissures.

     

    Source: Nizam Ismail