Why we can’t shut our borders like China, Australia and New Zealand

Why we can't shut our borders like China, Australia and New Zealand

In his ministerial statement in Parliament (10 May), Education Minister Lawrence Wong who is also co-chair of the Multi-Ministry Task Force said larger, continental-sized or resource-rich countries like China, Australia and New Zealand can shut their doors and minimise the flow of people but Singapore cannot. “They are able to keep things going with their […]

Taking umbrage at umbrage: what some netizens have to say

Taking Umbrage at Ng Yat Chung

“Umbrage” is the word on social media in recent days. It’s a noun that means ‘offence’ or ‘annoyance’. To take umbrage is to take offence. Many, it seems, are taking umbrage at CEO of SPH Ng Yat Chung for taking umbrage at a reporter’s question. Most, it seems, are simply taking umbrage at the word […]

This is my Singapore where talent counts more than parentage

parentage

Mr Philip Anthony Jeyaratnam, son of J B Jeyaratnam, has been appointed a judicial commissioner of the Supreme Court for one year. His term starts on Jan 4, 2021. Congratulating him for having done well, Mr Goh Chok Tong said, “In 1993, as PM I invited him for lunch at the Istana. I met him […]

Lessons on gratitude and resilience from 82-year-old cleaner uncle with walking stick

uncle ming

“Today, uncle Ming taught me about gratitude, contentment, and resilience. He wants to lead a dignified life and fend for himself, instead of relying purely on aid.  His gratitude heart rose above all adversity and nothing destroyed his optimistic view of life. Uncle Ming, thank you for being my teacher,” Ms Lee Siew Yian wrote […]

The risk of a political auction in minimum wage is real

political auction minimum wage

In Parliament, Dr Koh Poh Koon said that the risk of a blanket national minimum wage is the inevitable politicisation of minimum wage setting. In a political contest, a political party will likely come along to say $1500 reflects higher “moral imperatives”. Yet another will come and say $1300 is good, $1500 is better, but […]

QR codes have become an integral part of our lives but where did they come from?

QR Codes

Since the pandemic began, QR codes have become an integral part of our lives. You can’t go places without getting past them. What exactly is a QR code? QR stands for ‘quick response’. A barcode holds information horizontally and is limited in its storage. It can hold just 20 characters of data. Unlike a barcode, […]