Respect and tolerance are the cornerstones of society, not English language proficiency
On February 27th, the Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party, Pritam Singh, proposed in Parliament that English language proficiency be used as a selection criterion for new immigrants. Language, religion, and race are sensitive issues that can touch the nerves of many people, resulting in newspaper comments and public discussions. This proposal has no practical effect […]
Pritam Singh warns of ‘Two Singapores’, then proceeds to create ‘Two Singapores’ with the English language divide
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh warned in Parliament of the possibility of Two Singapores emerging. Ironically, he made divisive suggestions leading to the Two Singapores he warned of. The WP leader suggested that applicants for PR and citizenship be made to take an English proficiency test. Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo responded with […]
Less discrimination of ex-offenders in the workplace but more can be done
Through the findings from three dialogues with ex-offenders and inmates, discrimination at the workplace has lessen but more can be done to cultivate a more inclusive work environment. The dialogue sessions were organised as part of the #EveryWorkersMatters Conversations. National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), together with co-hosts Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) and Singapore Prison Service […]
Bridging income gap between ITE, Poly, and Uni grads requires all of us to play a part. Lawrence Wong
How can we ensure that the rewards of work are fairer and more equitable? While income has grown across different segments of the workforce, there remains a big gap between the salaries of university graduates and that of the poly or ITE graduates. While some difference is understandable, too wide a gap can lead to […]
Law Society President Adrian Tan puts the nails on Branson’s reasons for not debating with Shanmugam
And so it was that Richard Branson chickened out and declined an invitation by MHA for a televised debate with Minister Shanmugam on the death penalty in Singapore. This led Law Society President Adrian Tan to ask him in a LinkedIn post: Were you just teasing us? Were you never really serious about this issue? […]
99-year lease is only way to recycle land for future generations to buy BTOs
Today, over 80% of Singaporeans live in public housing. Compared to public housing in most parts of the world, our HDB flats and home ownership model is the exception rather than the norm. Singapore’s housing policies have been uniquely successful. We are the only major city in the world where nearly every young couple getting […]
GST hike: will Singaporeans rise to the occasion with grit and determination?
At the IMAS-Bloomberg Investment Conference earlier this year (9 March), SM Tharman Shanmugaratnam talked about the ‘perfect long storm’ that the world has entered, shaped by a confluence of many factors. It is an era of profound uncertainty and fragility. The world has been facing rising prices caused by the pandemic recovery and then exacerbated […]
From M Ravi to Lim Tean, what do netizens think of the SBS bus drivers’ new lawyer?
What was supposed to be the start of a four-day hearing into a lawsuit by 13 former and current bus drivers against SBS Transit ended before it barely began – with a court drama. Voices were raised as lawyer for the 13 bus drivers, M Ravi accused High Court judge Audrey Lim of being biased. […]
We need FICA because small states like Singapore are often pawns in a game of global influence
A recent investigation by international news agency Reuters, revealed that China’s embassy in Washington pressured business executives to urge members of Congress to weaken or drop specific Bills that would enhance US competitiveness in the semiconductor industry. In the brazenly worded letters, Chinese officials warned senior executives at US companies that they would risk losing […]
Let’s have an honest conversation. FICA can protect Kirsten from herself.
The Foreign Intervention Countermeasures Act (FICA) was passed into law earlier this week, making it the Foreign Intervention Countermeasures Bill. Over the past week, Kirsten Han and her merry band of activists have stated their belief in several places that allowing foreign interference is democratic, that disallowing it is authoritarian, and that the government is […]