Tag: Singaporeans

Dear NSP Ignore The People’s Voices And See It Backfire In Your Face

With all respect Steve Chia and NSP CEC, you and your CEC have taken the narrow and disregarded the wide.

The narrow refers to your interests in your own party … and to an extent, your followers. The wide refers to the current political situation that Singapore and Singaporeans find themselves in today.

While every political party is looking toward correcting the wider imbalance of one party dominance, and seeking ways to correct that by weighted and considered compromises … your party is taking the opposite path to protect the narrow.

All I can say is that this will most likely backfire and set your party back to a stage where it might not be recoverable.

Please reconsider and tell us that you do feel the pulse of Singaporeans at large, and not only those of your supporters.

You do realise that in the news reported this morning, your party comes across as having the same mentality as that of the PAP.

You are only interested in serving your party supporters and has no qualm to disregard the voices of others who may not have yet supported you.

You still have time to correct your stance and to win back the confidence of Singaporeans and not just that of your supporters.

You do see that the 43% of voters who voted for the NSP in GE 2011 were Opposition supporters more than they were NSP supporters.

When push comes to shove, the party with the better parliamentary experience and trustworthiness will be preferred to take the PAP to task.

The 3 cornered fight will do NSP no good because the outcome is foreseeable …. you may not get half of your previous 43%. Why damage the good repute because of this?

Please reconsider for the larger cause and larger good of Singapore.

Thank you.

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

August 25, 2015
More Crimes Reported In 2015, Large Rise In Commercial Crimes

More crime cases have been recorded in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period last year, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a statement on Monday.

According to statistics released by the police, a total of 16,575 crime cases were recorded in the first six months of this year, a 6.7 per cent increase from the first half of 2014.

Cases classed as “commercial crimes” was the main contributor to the overall increase, with 3,893 cases in the first half of 2015 compared to 2,506 cases in the same period last year, a 55.3 per cent rise.

Within this crime class, “cheating involving e-commerce” saw a 65.6 per cent increase year-on-year from 613 cases last year to 1,015 cases this year.

Credit-for-sex scams, which also falls under the commercial crimes class, also saw a rise with 627 cases reported between Jan and Jun 2015, with approximately $1.59 million cheated.

In these cases, culprits use mobile messaging platforms to ask victims to purchase gift cards or virtual credits in exchange for escort or sexual services.

Meanwhile, a total of 141 cases of internet love crimes were recorded this year, 49 more than the 92 cases reported last year.

Mr David Chew, Director of SPF’s Commercial Affairs Department, said: “The growing trend of online crime is a cause for concern. Online transactions may be convenient, but the public should always be alert and exercise due diligence when engaging in online transactions to avoid falling victim to scammers.”

However, there were positive improvements in a number of other key crime areas in the first half of the year.

Crimes classed as “housebreaking and related crimes”, “theft and related crimes”, “crimes against persons” and miscellaneous crimes” all saw declines compared to last year.

Unlicensed moneylending and harrassment recorded a 24.7 per cent decrease from 3,359 cases last year to 2,531 cases this year. There were also fewer cases of cyber-extortion and outrage of modesty.

There has also been an improvement in the youth crime situation, with 1,362 youth arrests from Jan to Jun this year, a decrease of 280 arrests or 17.1 per cent.

“The unlicensed moneylending and harassment situation has been improving steadily. Housebreaking and violent or serious property crime cases have also decreased significantly. However, the increase in commercial crimes involving c-commerce transactions and scams is a concern,” said Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) of Police Tan Hung Hooi.

He assured that the police would be stepping up public education efforts to warn the public against such crimes.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 24, 2015
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