Give the young mother a break! She is contributing successfully to the higher Total Fertility Rate of Singapore! (And check out this article, "Singtel "Amateur Housewives" ... the solution to Singapore's declining birthrate?!" as well. Heh.)
Now one Stomper--who I bet must have been jealous--is whining to Stomp and in the end, he/she is just making the situation worse. I hope you proud of yourself, Stomper "Hello There"!!A 15-year-old girl has allegedly bragged about being pregnant and getting married on social networking site Facebook.
A contributor to citizen journalism website said the 15-year-old girl has been posting status updates on Facebook about her pregnancy.
The contributor, who went by the name of "Hello There" said there wasn't a need for the 15-year-old girl to brag about being pregnant.
"Firstly, she does not think that it's disgraceful. Secondly she is just a minor, and is she proving that she had sexual intercourse with a guy at age 15?
"Well I don't really assume she starting have sexual activities at age 15, maybe younger than that, what has become of Singaporean teenage girls? Being boastful about their indecent acts?" the contributor said.
In Singapore, it is against the law for anyone to have sex with those under the age of 16. If a girl under the age of 14 is involved, the crime is treated as statutory rape.
The contributor also criticised the girl's friends and parents for encouraging her to take care of the baby and herself.
"Teenagers and her friends are encouraging her to take care of the baby herself and her husband. I don't think that this good, what she really needs is a wake-up call to stop being so childish and mature up."
"What are parents thinking nowadays? Allowing their daughter marry at age 15? The law should step in for this," she said.
From Asiaone, "Girl, 15, talks about pregnancy and marriage on Facebook".
What a way to make a buzz! See, Singapore's SlutWalk organizers have been given a police permit. Oh yes, no hassle at all to get this permit. But now, they're fighting NOT to have to use it.
D'oh.
Then why the hell did they bother to apply it?
So that they can later on create a publicity by refusing NOT to use the police permit?!?!
SlutWalk Singapore, you are so complicated...They may have been given a police permit, but Singapore’s SlutWalk organisers are now fighting to not have to use it.
Their reason: it’s unnecessary for their event and they don’t want to set a precedent for future events.
“No one (who has organised similar events in the past) has had to apply for a police permit before, and we feel it’s important to not set a precedent for other events in the future to do this as well,” one of the organizers Cher Tan, 24, told Yahoo! Singapore on Tuesday evening.
The freelance graphic designer is one of seven women aged between 21 and 55 who came together to advance the SlutWalk cause in Singapore.
The event, which will be held on Sunday at Hong Lim Park, seeks to raise awareness about sexual assault, victim-blaming and slut-shaming. With its beginnings in Toronto, Canada, it has been held in numerous countries over this year, including Peru, South Africa, South Korea, India and Indonesia.
Explaining the situation, Tan said that the group had been given approval by NParks in August to hold their event at Hong Lim Park and under the terms and conditions, they need not apply for a police permit.
On 8 November, however, the organisers were told by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) that they needed a separate permit. Unaware of the exemption clause, one of the group's members then went ahead to apply for the permit.
When organisers sought clarification from the SPF, the SPF said that the presence of foreigners would require a police permit, according to Tan, who showed the correspondence between SPF and the organisers.
Organisers then reiterated in their response that their version of SlutWalk will not be conducted as a protest or demonstration.
Sunday’s event will be “carnival-style” with performances, speeches and informational booths, without protests or formations, unlike those done in events such as Pink Dot, explained Tan.
“How do you define ‘participation’ (by foreigners in the event) in this respect? The definition of the term in the Public Order Act doesn’t refer to (them) being bystanders,” she argued, adding that organisers remain puzzled over the need for a permit.
When the event draws closer, Tan said organisers will remind participants that SlutWalk Singapore is meant to be a gathering and not a protest or demonstration.
“We have already in all our publicity materials stated very clearly that it’s a gathering, so I believe the attendees will adhere,” she said.
Tan also told Yahoo! Singapore that organisers, on Monday, wrote to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean, Law Minister K Shanmugam and the Ministry for Community Development, Youth and Sports to seek help in waiving the need for a permit. They have yet to hear from any of them.
If there is no resolution to the matter, Tan said organisers will have to accept the police permit and proceed so that the event carries on as planned.
SlutWalk Singapore will be held this Sunday at the Speakers’ Corner of Hong Lim Park, alongside SlutWalk events happening in Hong Kong, Bangalore and Mumbai. Click here for more information, or visit their website at http://slutwalksg.com.
From Yahoo! News, "SlutWalk organisers fight against need for police permit".
Nah. Ignore the rhetorical question above. I'm not subscribing to the concept of 'honor killing'.
Hsu Wei Hua, the man who murdered his Thai wife's lover, is still a murderer.A Singaporean man who murdered his Thai wife's lover in Bangkok on Thursday afternoon is currently on the run and wanted by police in Thailand.
The stabbing took place in a unit on the sixth floor of the Regent Home Condominium located in the Chatuchak area, reports said. The man had reportedly purchased the unit for his wife.
The murderer, identified as 38-year-old Hsu Wei Hua, was caught on the building's security camera as he fought with and stabbed his wife's lover outside the apartment.
The camera captured images of him eavesdropping outside the apartment door for half an hour before forcing entry into the room by kicking the door in.
Upon entering, he found his 25-year-old wife, Ms Siriwan Yaemsi, in bed with a naked 26-year-old drift-racing driver Ittiphan Kuwakorn, who is also known as Wat Kumho.
Mr Ittiphan is a car drifter familiar with the community in Singapore and Malaysia.
According to the camera footage, both men started fighting outside the apartment. Mr Ittiphan was still naked.
The suspect then re-entered the apartment and emerged with a knife which he used to stab his wife's lover.
The footage also revealed that Mr Ittiphan had staggered back to the apartment unit before dying in the bedroom.
According to Thai media reports, Mr Ittiphan was stabbed in nine places including his chest, heart, back, and right hand.
Ms Siriwan called the police after Mr Kuwakorn died, and upon their arrival, they discovered the Singaporean man's passport at the scene.
The Singaporean allegedly fled the crime scene in a BMW 325i that he had bought for his wife. He had previously also bought her luxury gifts and is believed to have given her an allowance of 70,000 baht ($2,900) every month, The New Paper reported.
According to Lianhe Wanbao, Hsu married Ms Siriwan on Sept 25, 2009. His first marriage was to a Singaporean woman in 1997.
He reportedly owns a plastic moulding factory in Kallang and was a director at another company in the same industry from 1998 to 2001.
According to The New Paper, Hsu registered for a sole proprietorship of Evo Technology, which he cancelled in 2006.
He left behind his passport and Singapore driving licence after stabbing Mr Ittiphan, and has not been seen or heard from since the incident.
Lover believed to be wife's chauffer
A report in The New Paper states that Hsu had hired Mr Ittiphan as a chauffeur for Ms Siriwan.
Reporters from the paper visited Hsu's last known address in Singapore - an HDB flat on Yishun Ave 11 - on Sunday, but were turned away by a man who answered the door.
He refused to say whether he was related to Hsu.
There are also conflicting local news reports about the relationship between Hsu and the residents of the Yishun unit.
One report stated that Hsu is related to the residents in the unit but were unaware of the stabbing case, whereas another said that Hsu had rented the unit and did not own it.
Victim known among car drifting community
Mr Ittiphan is known to some of the drifters in Singapore and Malaysia, who expressed shock when news broke about his death.
Local drifter Benjamin Cheah, 20, told The New Paper: "I was shocked to hear the news. It's sad to know that he passed away in such circumstances."
Mr Ittiphan is often seen at drifting events in Thailand and while he wasn't one of Thailand's top-ranked drifters, he had been in the Thailand drifting scene for many years.
Mr Cheah said that the two knew each other as casual acquaintances and would exchange greetings whenever they saw each other during events at the track.
He also said that Mr Ittiphan had a purple Nissan Cefiro which he used in drift events in Bangkok.
Mr Cheah told The New Paper that his Thai friends had not seen Ms Siriwan and Mr Ittiphan together.
However, a Thai friend revealed to Mr Cheah that Ms Siriwan had told Mr Ittiphan that she wanted to end their relationship just the day before the fatal stabbing took place.
From Asiaone, "S'porean on the run after killing wife's lover in Bangkok".
(Okay, I admit PM Lee Hsien Loong was not quoted in the article to declare 'Remember the Aljunied!')
However, I still strongly believe that will make a good battle cry. Remember the Aljunied!
Okay, so I'm inspired by the Battle of Alamo & its subsequent resultant cries of "Remember the Alamo!". Hur hur.
Seriously speaking, though, it will be a great motivational challenge for PAP to reclaim Aljunied in the next General Election. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told party activists at the People's Action Party at its annual convention yesterday that they will fight to win back Aljunied GRC.
He said that party leaders have been talking to branch chairmen and key activists on how the party can win back ground support there.
The five-member PAP team helmed by then foreign minister George Yeo was ousted by the Workers' Party (WP) with 54.7 per cent of the valid votes.
The Straits Times reported that Mr Lee noted that while PAP candidates and party activists worked hard during the May General Election, the mood was against them.
Mr Lee also commended Mr Sitoh Yih Pin for his efforts in winning Potong Pasir. He was successful on his third try.
He added that this 'never say die' attitude which saw PAP winning Potong Pasir will be the way to gain ground in Hougang as well, a single-seat constituency that has seen Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang hold onto this SMC for the last 20 years. It is now helmed by current WP MP Yaw Shin Leong.
From Asiaone, "PAP will win back Aljunied: PM Lee".
Yes, being a porn star notwithstanding, Sunny Leone is still truly charming. She made a special appearance in India's biggest reality TV show & performed a sexy pole dance (See the video below--in Mirror.co.uk article attached).A Canadian porn star appearing in India's biggest reality TV show is causing a stir in the mostly conservative country where sex is taboo and open displays of affection are still frowned upon.
The busty Sunny Leone, best known for her roles in films as Not Charlie's Angels XXX and The Virginity Hit, made her entry this week in the Bigg Boss, India's version of the show Big Brother.
"Hi I am Sunny from California," Leone introduced herself to her fellow inmates at the plush Bigg Boss house in heavily-accented Hindi after showing off a few Bollywood-style dance moves.
Leone, a 30-year-old Canadian of Indian origin, said she decided to join the Bigg Boss programme not because of the money on offer but because she was addicted to the show.
"I'm really excited to be a part of it. I think I’d look great cooking... and doing the house chores in pencil heels and sexy clothes that I'm comfortable in," she told the Hindustan Times before joining the show.
In an article headlined "The XXX Factor" on Thursday, the Mail Today tabloid asked "Is porn slowly mainstreaming into our society through Sunny Leone on TV and PETA's adult site?"
Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is to launch a porn website this year that will also show animal mistreatment.
The site peta.xxx will present visitors with "tantalizing images", followed by graphic ones of cruelty to animals.
"Who will check children from voting for Sunny Leone... and surfing the net to get tutored about her?" asked writer Sangeeth Sebastian. "These are pertinent points because sex is still taboo in India."
On microblogging site Twitter, reactions ranged from the lascivious to the outraged.
"It is shameful that TV shows are now bringing in porn stars to boost their viewer ratings," college student Payal Saxena wrote. "I will not watch this show anymore and will urge my other friends to do so."
Indian cinema and television shows refrain from showing anything that is deemed to be indecent, largely out of fear of running foul of strict obscenity laws and the powerful state censor.
The Bollywood film industry is famous for its "air kissing" -- kissing on the lips is still rare -- and sex is only ever hinted at by suggestive scenes.
Past guests on Bigg Boss include former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and the late British reality TV star Jade Goody.
From Yahoo! News, "Porn star causes a stir in India".The Indian Big Brother house got a saucy treat yesterday as porn star Sunny Leone performed a “seductive as possible” pole dance.
The 30-year-old, who hasn’t revealed her x-rated profession to her housemates, left the men open-mouthed while the girls giggled and clapped along.
The busty beauty was sent into the house on Day 48 to spice things up and it seems she is doing just that.
Partially quoted from Mirror.co.uk, "Porn star Sunny Leone performs sexy pole dance in Indian Big Brother house".
PAP shall expect tougher fights in future elections; therefore PAP must connect with people...with Nokia...because Nokia connecting people? Hur hur. Sorry. I simply cannot resist.
The People's Action Party (PAP) was less effective in its campaign coordination and strategy during the general election (GE) in May 2011.
Party Chairman Khaw Boon Wan said that in some branches, campaign strategies on physical developments "did not gain good traction with voters".
He said that at the national level, despite steering the economy out of the country's deepest recession since independence, the party was less effective in getting political mileage out of it.
These were issues identified by a review committee, which he is heading to analyse the results of the election.
Mr Khaw, who shared the findings at the PAP Convention on Sunday said there was also a perceived disconnect with the people.
He highlighted four underlying trends from the results of the GE that'll serve as useful lessons for members.
They are: a stronger mood for more opposition voices, a strengthening of the opposition, a shift in demographics where more young voters are influenced not just by what they read on the Internet but also by a certain mood for political change, and the era of the digital age.
Mr Khaw, who's also Minister for National Development, stressed that the PAP must evolve to meet the intense competition that lies ahead.
He said it must ensure that it remains constructive and continues to put Singaporeans first.
Partially quoted from Channel NewsAsia, "PAP must connect with people: Khaw".The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) can expect future general elections to be tougher contests and should not expect any more clean sweeps and safe wards.
This was the message from PAP Secretary-General and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the party's convention on Sunday.
Mr Lee said in every constituency, the "PAP must fight, and fight to win".
He urged party activists to prepare early.
He reminded them that preparations must not just start when the elections are approaching, but continue throughout the five-year term.
He stressed that whatever the overall strategy and national issues, ground work in each constituency still makes a great difference.
This applies to constituencies that the PAP lost, such as Hougang and Aljunied GRC, as well as wards that it won comfortably or narrowly.
Mr Lee said one conclusion from the party's review of the general election is the need to identify and deploy potential candidates earlier.
He said the PAP must "avoid parachuting people in at the last minute" and pointed out that it's already looking for potential candidates for the next round.
Wow! That's cheap!! Imagine the possibilities: with a mere $5, you can use the PA system of Mustafa Centre to propose to your loved one, or you can use it to air your grievance (why go to Speaker's Corner?!), or you can use it to sing your song and gain instant fame.
Yeah. Wonderful, huh?
Well done, Mustafa Centre for being so darn creative with its PA system. Heh.THE father panicked when he lost track of his 12-year-old boy while they were shopping at Mustafa Centre.
Fearing that his son might have been kidnapped, Mr Joe Tan, 61, a retiree, rushed to the centre's security office and pleaded with them to make an announcement on their public address (PA) system. What the security officer told Mr Tan shocked him - the announcement would be made only if he paid $5.
No reason was given for the fee.
Said Mr Tan: "I was outraged at first.
"I thought that making such an announcement should be a free service for shoppers."
But he eventually relented and paid the fee. And he found his son soon after the announcement was made.
Mr Tan had taken his wife and son to the shopping centre in Little India on Monday afternoon.
"We were buying some clothes for our upcoming trip overseas," he said.
"My son got bored, so I told him to go to the fourth floor to entertain himself."
But when Mr Tan, who had been shopping with his wife on the third floor, went to look for his son, the boy was nowhere to be found. And he was uncontactable because he had left his handphone at home.
"I'd heard of some cases of children simply disappearing and never being heard from again," he said. "I didn't dare to think too much about that possibility."
For 45 minutes, Mr Tan and his wife frantically searched all six floors of Mustafa Centre, with no luck.
He said: "I thought to myself, 'This is serious'."
With no idea where his son might have gone, Mr Tan finally approached the security office on the third floor for help.
No window shopper
That was when he was told about the $5 fee.
Said the man: "I told the security officer, I spent nearly $300 here. I'm not a mere window shopper."
But the security officer was unmoved, he said.
Mr Tan said that after he paid the fee, a Mustafa employee made the announcement over the PA system, telling his son to meet him at the computer section of the second basement level.
"When I went down to the second basement level, I saw my son running toward me almost immediately," he said.
"I was so relieved."
Mr Tan later found out that his son had been on the fourth floor all along, but he had been hidden behind a bookshelf.
When The New Paper called Mustafa Centre asking to speak to the management about the $5 fee, we were directed to the security office. They declined to comment.
So we sent a reporter to the store to pose as a customer who wanted to make an announcement on the PA system.
True enough, the security officer said that it would cost $5 to make the announcement.
He added that the fee was for a one-time announcement, and that additional payment would be required for subsequent announcements.
Management personnel at two other malls said that the PA system in their mall is used only in certain circumstances.
These include instances of illegal parking and when people lose their children or the elderly in the mall.
They do not charge for making these public service announcements.
To discourage any potential abuse of the PA system, the customer service officers said they would also use their discretion in distinguishing between genuine requests for help and pranks.
As for Mr Tan, he said that he is just relieved that nothing happened to his son.
"Of course, I'll make sure my son carries his handphone with him at all times from now on," he said.
From Asiaone, "Pay $5 to make announcement".
"Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend." That's what one American humorist, Corey Ford once rightly asserted.
I strongly agree.
We always hear how a dog is a man's best friend.
But is it vice versa?
The latest news has a sorrowful tale of how a dog skips eating to stay by his owner's grave. Inspiring. Yet it will be more so if the news is about a man/woman who skips eating to stay by his/her dog's grave.
Oh well...
Mr Lao Pan was unmarried and had no known relatives.
But the 68-year-old loner, who lived modestly in Panjiatun village near Qingdao city in China's Shandong province, had a loyal friend in his dog.
Early this month, Mr Lao died.
And in a touching scene of loyalty, the dog has refused to leave its master's grave, BBC News reported.
The report said that the pooch even went without food for seven days, lying next to the grave as if waiting for Mr Lao to return.
The villagers have been desperately trying to lure the animal away from the grave, but have been met with stubborn resistance so far.
Sky News reported that since noticing the pooch, villagers have been bringing food and water to the gravesite, and are even planning to build a kennel there.
A concerned local tried to take the animal home with him, but to no avail.
"I saw the dog when I was working in the field, and I called him, and wanted to take him back home because I also have a dog," the man told the BBC.
"I gave him a steamed bun when it came to my home. The dog took the bun and ran back. "I tried to catch it, but it ran even faster back to the tomb and stayed there."
Other loyal pooches
This canine's loyalty draws parallels to other famously loyal pooches, such as Hachiko, Japan's most faithful dog.
In 1924, Hachiko was brought to Tokyo by his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno of the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo.
For many months, the pooch saw his master off to work at the front door and found his way to the nearby Shibuya Station to greet the man at the end of the day.
The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno didn't return one evening.
The Professor had suffered a stroke at the university that day.
He died and never returned to the train station where his dog was waiting for him.
Hachiko, not realising that its beloved master was dead, kept returning to the train station for more than 10 years, hoping that the man would eventually show up at the spot where they last met.
Sky News reported a similar story of Edinburgh's Greyfriars Bobby - a dog from the 19th century who returned to its master's grave every day for 14 years.
The dog now has a bronze statue erected in honour of its loyalty.
It also has its own website.
Bobby belonged to Mr John Gray, who worked for the Edinburgh City Police.
It was two years old when Gray died of tuberculosis in 1858 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.
The dog apparently spent the rest of its life sitting on its master's grave, cared for by well-wishers.
Many books and films have been based on its story.
From Asiaone, "Dog skips eating to stay by owner's grave".
I wish the article also reveals what the occupation of this sick guy by name of Hui Sai Mun. I suspect he was really thinking to get a free accommodation for 1 month in jail. A good break, huh, Hui Sai Mun?!?!A man wore lacy black underwear and and stood in the corridor of a flat in Ang Mo Kio.
Hui Sai Mun, 45, then masturbated and smiled at a woman who was walking towards her flat.
The woman, 48, avoided him and took a different route to go home. She then called a neighbour to complain about Hui's behaviour.
When the neighbour's wife went up to check, Hui was still wearing the lacy black top and panties.
He also masturbated in full view of her.
Hui was sentenced to a month's jail after he pleaded guilty to committing an obscene act and insulting the modesty of his neighbours.
District Judge Roy Neighbour took into consideration a third charge when sentencing Hui. He committed an obscene act on November 3 by wearing a brassiere and panties cut in a way that exposed his nipples and private parts while lying on a bench.
From Asiaone, "Man engages in kinky behaviour along HDB flat corridor".
What the hell? Cammi Tse, who is only 16 years old, is reported to have had an abortion some time early this year. And the father is said to be Vincent Wong?
Ouch. So young and she's already a killer.
And this Vincent Wong?! This guy was just got married two weeks ago. I wonder how his wife, Yoyo Chen, reacted... 16-year-old model Cammi Tse has been a hot topic ever since the recent scandal with Edison Chen, but it is now reported that she had an abortion earlier this year and the father was actor Vincent Wong, who just got married two weeks ago to actress Yoyo Chen, according to the May Daily website.
Despite being young at age, Cammi is believed to have dated up to five celebrities, including Edison Chen, Shen Chi-ming, Jing Boran and Steven Cheung of Hong Kong pop group Boy'z.
The Hong Kong based Entertainment Weekly claimed that Cammi demanded HK $200,000 (SG $33,650) from Vincent to keep mum about the abortion.
However, Yoyo is no saint herself, she was reported to have been previously embroiled in a prostitution scandal.
As reported by Hong Kong's Face magazine two years ago, she received considerable amount of money from a lawyer and in exchange, she became his mistress.
From Yahoo! News, "Cammi Tse aborted Vincent Wong's child".Cammi Tse (谢芷蕙) had “a thing” with actor Vincent Wong (王浩信), who is set to marry fellow actress YoYo Chen (陳自瑤) on Friday.
Hong Kong’s Next Magazine claimed the 28-year-old Vincent sent romantic text messages to Cammi after meeting her at a party.
Soon after the 16-year-old model went to Vincent’s place and stayed there alone with him for five hours — while YoYo was working on the mainland.
Cammi was dating playboy Edison Chen (陈冠希) at the time.
Cammi and Vincent met up several times, until YoYo demanded they “broke up.”
To salvage their relationship, Vincent proposed to YoYo.
Vincent, however, has angrily refuted the report, saying Cammi only went to his place because he was throwing a party and they never had “a thing.”
He further claimed Cammi had revealed their hookup just to get publicity.
From May Daily, "Cammi and Vincent Wong had “a thing”". (10/11/11)
One cannot help but be moved to tears by this amazing young man; Sung-bong Choi.
When Sung-bong decided to sing on the Talent Show "Korea's Got Talent" he had no idea that he would win the hearts of millions all over the world!
His story of his childhood is so moving that even the judges had a hard time keeping their composure.
He told the judges that even though he didn't think he could sing very well, he sang because it made him happy.
They couldn't have been more surprised.
And here's the clip:
Surely there are other ways better than simply rioting?!?!Clashes between police and workers demanding higher pay continued on Friday on the Indonesian island of Batam.
Tear gas and rubber bullets were used to disperse union workers and prevent them from staging a third day of demonstrations.
Local reports said close to a thousand workers descended on Batam's Mayor office.
Dozens of protestors were arrested, but labour unions have vowed to continue demonstrations until their demands are met.
The Batam municipal authority had proposed that the minimum wage be raised to 1.3 million rupiah from the current 1.2 million, agreed to by the local tripartite wage council.
However, labour unions are insisting that the minimum wage be raised to 1.76 million rupiah. (US$195).
Police have cordoned off Batam Centre, the island's administrative centre.
Most manufacturing plants, offices, and shops in the area remained closed on Friday for fear of more violence.
On Wednesday, several cars were torched and office windows smashed.
Dozens of people were injured.
Batam Island is Indonesia's first free-trade zone.
It offers incentives to foreign investors to establish their manufacturing plants there, many of which are labour-intensive.
From Channel NewsAsia, "Dozens of Batam protesters arrested".As many as 20,000 laborers in Batam continued their demonstration yesterday demanding the city increase minimum wages. The police were forced to use tear gas to contain the crowd.
The workers ignored the police’s call to disperse. Instead, they threw stones at the personnel and damaged the Batam Municipality Office’s security post as well as a police booth at Simpang Panbil. The billboard at the Batam Center was also dismantled and tires were set on fire. At least 40 motorcycles owned by demonstrators were broken as the police turned them upside down.
The presence of Riau Police chief, Brig. Gen. Raden Budi, and deputy governor Soerya Respationo, did not make them stop. They spoke for 10 minutes and decided that the workers’ representatives would negotiate with the Batam Municipality.
However, the negotiation was not successful. The municipality was willing to raise the minimum wage to Rp1.320,000, but workers insisted on Rp1.7 million.
Rally coordinator Muhammad Nasir threatened to deploy thousands of workers if the government did not meet their demand.
From Tempo Interactive, "Laborers Go Wild at Batam Demonstration". Indonesian National Police said on Friday that 27 people have been arrested in connection with two days of violent wage demonstrations that rocked the industrial zone of Batam, Riau Islands.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution said two of the men had already been named suspects, namely A, 32, who had been charged with allegedly instigating the riots, and A.M., who was caught read handed throwing rocks at the mayor office.
Authorities in Batam, agreed on Thursday to a more substantial increase in the city’s minimum wage for next year, following the demonstrations.
Sahat Sinurat, the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry’s director of industrial disputes, said that after lengthy negotiations, all sides had agreed to peg the minimum wage to the Reasonable Living Cost Index (KHL).
As a result, the minimum wage will be Rp 1.32 million ($147) a month, less than what workers had been demanding.
“Initially, there was disagreement about the monthly minimum wage,” Sahat said. “Apindo [the Indonesian Employers Association] wanted it set at Rp 1.26 million, but the workers wanted Rp 1.72 million. This is what caused the rioting.”
The minimum wage this year is Rp 1.18 million a month.
Workers had taken to the streets since Wednesday to demand that the local wage council immediately decide on the minimum wage for next year, following a lengthy deadlock between employers and the workers’ union. Under a Manpower Ministry decision, the minimum wage should be set 40 days before it goes into force, or last Monday.
Protesting workers clashed with police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the crowds.
Records from municipal clinics on Wednesday showed 15 people were treated for injuries sustained in the clashes, while five were taken to Kamatya Sahidah Hospital and Awal Bros Batam Hospital.
The Batam branch of the Indonesian Metal Workers Union (FSPM) said at least four workers were injured by rubber bullets.
The violence resumed on Thursday morning when workers and police officers hurled rocks at each other outside the mayor’s office. Police once again fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Shortly before noon, the governor of Riau Islands, Soerya Respationo, and the provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Budi Winarso, met with demonstrators.
Soerya called on the workers’ representatives to meet once again with Batam Mayor Ahmad Dahlan for negotiations on the minimum wage.
Budi told the crowd there was no need to resort to violence because “we all are brothers.”
About 40 minutes later, the workers’ representatives got their chance to meet with Dahlan. The governor, however, left not long after the meeting started, saying the issue was no longer within his authority to oversee.
The Jakarta-based Committee for Living Wage Action (KAUL) had earlier called for the Batam wage council to set the 2012 minimum wage at Rp 1.76 million and Rp 1.848 million for jobs in certain sectors.
It also demanded that Dahlan step down over the violence.
Also on Thursday, thousands of workers in Bekasi, another largely industrial area, took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration to demand a higher minimum wage than the level set by the local wage council.
Earlier this week, a threatened massive strike in Jakarta was averted after the wage council here agreed to peg next year’s minimum wage to the current KHL for the city.
From Jakarta Globe, "27 Arrests After Batam Riot Violence".Batam island faced its third anarchic labor strike since 2010 on Thursday. Workers ran amok in an attempt to force the local government to meet their demands for a much higher municipal minimum-wage. But the administration said it was unable to accommodate the aspirations of the island’s workers, one of the most favored foreign-investment destinations in the country.
More than 5,000 striking workers from the Muka Kuning, Kabil and Nongsa industrial zones took to the streets and vandalized several police posts. They protested against the shooting of two fellow demonstrators and the beating of 21 others in violent clashes with antiriot police on Wednesday.
They also thronged the municipal office demanding the mayor raise the monthly municipal minimum-wage to Rp 1.76 million (US$195.36) from the current Rp 1.2 million.
Most businesses, mainly labor-intensive manufacturing industries, suspended their operations as they did wish to become targets of the protesters’ anger.
The Batam mayor declined to meet striking workers and insisted he could only approve a wage hike to Rp 1.3 million as had been decided by the local tripartite wage council. He also called on labor unions that had sent their delegates to the tripartite wage council to disseminate the agreed wage hike in an attempt to end the rallies.
The workers were further outraged when Riau Islands Vice Governor Soeryo Respationo offered Rp 15 million to the demonstrators, accusing him of trying to bribe them.
Unionists from the Confederation of All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), Indonesian Metal Workers Union (SPMI) and Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (KSBSI) rejected the municipal tripartite wage council’s agreement on the wage hike and insisted Rp 1.76 million was the most reasonable rate of pay on the island.
The two-day anarchic rallies have drawn mixed reactions from many sides. Unionists and lawmakers condemned the use of violence in handling the rallies and criticized the implementation of the free-trade zone that had failed to improve the social welfare of workers and their families.
“The government has given investors various facilities, including tax-free imports and investment permits, but none of this brings social justice to locals, including our workers,” said Rieke Diah Pita-loka, a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), in Batam.
Although living costs in Batam are high, the minimum wage in the island is lower than that of Jakarta, Bekasi, Surabaya and many other municipalities.
The violent strike was the third to have rocked the island in the past two years. The first happened in April 2010 when thousands of people took to the streets and clashed with security personnel in their solidarity with workers of PT Drydocks World Graha. They were protesting against alleged racist behavior by foreign staff in the company.
In September 2011, five people were injured when rioting broke out at the PT Nexus Engineering Indonesia dockyard.
Batam, now a home to 26 industrial estates and more than 4,000 companies employing almost 300,000 workers from Java and Sumatra, is expected to receive billion-dollar investment packages from numerous countries.
Yayan Achyar, foreign-investment promotion executive at the Batam Free Trade Zone, regretted the violent industrial rallies.
“This foreign direct investment could be wiped out if the labor rallies continue and disturb the investment climate on the island,” he said.
From Jakarta Post, "Labor violence erupts in investor haven Batam".
Seeing is believing...watching is laughing. Watch this, "FULL 30 MIN EP 1 - Gabriel Iglesias "Stand-up Revolution" Alfred Robles, Rick Gutierrez, & Ozomatli".
Referring to Google Translate of this lihatberita.com article, "Foto Sexynya Beredar, Aiko Dimarahi Orangtua" (or as per Google Translate, "Circulating Sexynya photos, Aiko scolded by parents".)
Well, I'd just have to use this movie quote from American Beauty to describe the Indonesian beautiful chef/actress, Aiko Sarwosri: "Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can't take it, and my heart is just going to cave in."
Yeah. The news is out: civil servants will enjoy a 0.75-month of year end bonus--add to it is the 13th-month payment. Hmmm.... Singapore's 76,000 civil servants will get a 0.75-month of year-end Annual Variable Component (AVC) in December.
Together with the one-month Non-Pensionable Annual Allowance (NPAA), also commonly referred to as the 13th-month payment, the total year-end payment is 1.75 months, says the Public Service Division (PSD).
But there will be no Special Variable Payment, or what's known as the Growth Bonus, this year. The Growth Bonus is given out only when the Singapore economy does exceptionally well.
Last year, civil servants received one to 1.6 months of Growth Bonus, which was paid out in March this year.
On top of the year-end payment this year, civil servants received a mid-year AVC of 0.5-month and a one-off dollar quantum of S$250 in July.
Last year, civil servants received a mid-year AVC of 0.5-month and a one-off cash payment of S$300.
The Singapore National Employers' Federation (SNEF) described this year's year-end payment as a "good" one.
Meanwhile the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and its eight affiliated civil service unions said the year-end payment is "fair".
The labour movement added that the amount was concluded after close consultation and negotiations between the Public Service Division and representatives from NTUC and the civil service unions.
The NTUC said the amount rewards civil servants for their hard work and contributions and also takes into account Singapore's projected slower economic growth this year compared to 2010 as well as the higher costs of living.
Singapore's economy expanded 5.4 percent for the first three quarters of this year, and the forecast for the whole of 2011 is growth of around 5 percent, down from the 14.5 percent pace in 2010.
The Public Service Division said the year-end bonus is decided against the backdrop of heightened economic and financial uncertainties ahead.
Union leaders from the Daily Rated Workers Union are already advising their workers to start to save up more so that they can weather the upcoming storm.
Ma Wei Cheng, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees, said: "There is always the training, the upgrading and how their income can be supplemented, how their conditions can be improved, and we will continue to do that for low-wage workers."
Channel NewsAsia understands that a dollar quantum was also proposed during discussions.
NTUC deputy secretary-general, Heng Chee How, said: "There was a dollar quantum in the mid-year instalment and so if you take as a whole then there is a dollar quantum within this AVC payment, and there is also the 13th-month (payment). So I would say the government has taken into account, in terms of AVC as a whole, the advantage the dollar quantum would give to the low-income."
As for the private sector, the Singapore National Employers Federation said it expects bonuses to vary with a company's and individual's performance.
It added that Singapore's economic growth in the fourth quarter could be around 3.5 percent and this may have a dampening effect on year-end bonus payments in the private sector.
From Channel NewsAsia, "Year-end bonus for civil servants".
LOL. You've got to see this clip, "Coupling - A Babble Fish Translation".
The original clip when the gorgeous lady is speaking in Hebrew:
I like how in the latter part of the video, the lady speaks in English while Jeff in Hebrew. Haha.
Check out this hot video clip, "Bieber Barber Shop"!
A very well-written and sincere open letter addressed to Jason Neo, Christian Eliab Ratnam and Donaldson Tan (or in short the Terrible--and possibly/allegedly Racist--Trio).
Well done, muzlimbuzz.sg.In mid-November, the spotlight came onto Mr Jason Neo who had posted a picture of a school bus with Muslim students from Huda Kindergarten with the caption “Bus filled with young terrorist trainees”.
A few days later, Mr Christian Eliab Ratnam posted a picture of text claiming that Islam is not a religion but ‘an authoritarian, political doctrine which imposes itself by force’, among other inflammatory things.
Shortly after, Mr Donaldson Tan reposted a picture of a pig superimposed on the Kaabah – only the most controversial animal in Islam on the most sacred site in Islam.
To the three men, I pray you are well as you read this, if you ever do.
Your actions have not angered me as much as it has saddened me. Having lived alongside and studied with neighbours and classmates of different faiths in Singapore all my life, I grew up believing that my friends accepted my Muslim identity and faith as part of me. With the recent postings, I wonder, do my friends secretly harbour thoughts that I’m an adherent to a violent religion? Do they worry if I may one day harm them, or my country?
In the past five to ten years, as I read articles about the discrimination that Western Muslims had to face by their countrymen post-911, I always counted my blessings that being a Muslim in Singapore had never been an issue. I am now starting to wonder if I had been naive all these while.
To Mr Jason Neo, in your defence you said that the boys were standing in a manner that looked as if they were pointing guns at each other. Perhaps you thought that it was a funny coincidence that these Muslim kids reminded you of Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban or Mas Selamat even. I guess I cannot really blame you since the media loves to show angry Muslims burning flags and buildings, and not the regular, smiling Muslims that eat at McDonald’s and take the same trains and buses as you do.
It is sad to know that when you saw the Muslim kids, you didn’t think “That may be my neighbour’s kids” or “How cute those boys are with their tiny headgear” but instead, your initial thought process was in flaming red warning letters: Terrorists. Well, I guess a caption such as “Muslim boys in their cute headgear” was just not inspiring or exciting enough for Facebook.
Muslims have had quite enough of being misrepresented in the media and you are just a walking example of how that has had an effect on your impression towards Muslims.
To Mr Christian Eliab Ratnam, contrary to what you believe, Islam is not “an authoritarian, political doctrine which imposes itself by force”. It’s a pity that you never saw Islam through my eyes. As I grew up and learnt to love my religion, these were the things that I was taught.
Islam Does Not Impose Itself by Force
•” There is no compulsion in religion.” (Quran 2:256)
•In the Charter of Privileges sent by the Prophet Muhammad to the Christians of Najran, it states:”This is a message from [Prophet] Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion [in religion] is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them.”
Islam as a Religion of Mercy, Forgiveness and Honesty
•”But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs. ” ( The Quran 42:43 )
•“Repel evil with that which is best. ” (The Quran 23:96 )
•“Woe to those that deal in fraud ; those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, demands full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be called to account ? ” (The Quran 83:1-4)
•“The best of companions in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to his companions, and the best of neighbours in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to his neighbour.”( Hadith – Narrated by Imam Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad)
•“Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the neighbour who is near, the neighbour who is far, the companion by your side…”[ The Quran 4 : 36]
According to the celebrated scholar of Islam, Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad Al-Qurthubi (1214-1273 AD ) in his exegesis of the Quran, Tafsir Al-Qurthubi, this verse is clear in its instructions to do good to one’s neighbours, to fulfil their rights, to protect their properties and lives, regardless whether that neighbour is a Muslim or not.
There are many things in Islam that are beautiful. You need only seek it to find it, and you will then see it the way I do.
To Mr Donaldson Tan, while you refuse to remove the offensive picture by saying that “Islam is not sacrosanct”, here’s what I’ll say:
Islam may not be sacrosanct to you, but religious harmony, love, tolerance and acceptance of other’s beliefs are. You cannot use the “my right to free speech” card and then cry foul when we use our “my right to be offended” card. I don’t need laws or a Sedition Act to chart my actions. I need only listen to my mother’s timeless advice: “If you’re not prepared to face the consequences of your actions, don’t do it.”
Why now? Why provoke when we have tirelessly built our nation to be one of love and acceptance? Everyone has a part to play to ensure that Singapore continues to be a place of peace and harmony. Just look at the unrest and racial/civil strife in other nations and tell me if you’re willing to let what we have go to waste only because of “free speech”.
I love my country and I love the peace that we have enjoyed thus far. And I definitely love my friends regardless of their faith or ethnic background, a thousand times more than I love my right to free speech.
I pray God fill your heart with much more love.
Together, we need to combat intolerance of any kind and put our nation’s peace above ourselves.
To the three of you, and anyone else who has any doubts or concerns about Islam and Muslims, please feel free to browse our website for the articles that we have, or to drop us an email so that we may address them.
From muzlimbuzz.sg, "An Open Letter to Mr Jason Neo, Christian Eliab Ratnam and Donaldson Tan".
Meanwhile in the news:
- Asiaone 20/11, "Former YPAP member apologises to kindergarten over offensive post" (Featuring Jason Neo)
- The Philippine Star 21/11, "Singapore probes soldier's anti-Islam web comments" (Featuring Christian Eliab Ratnam)
- Asiaone 23/11, "Blogger probed for offensive Facebook post" (Featuring Donaldson Tan)
Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale (From "Live at the Union Chapel")
Ah. A Whiter Shade of Pale. Previously blogged about this fantastic song last time in 2009 (here) and in 2006 (here).
Yes. I just LOVE this song a lot!!!
So allow me to (again) present this song as performed by Procol Harum singer, Gary Brooker in the very old vs new version. Heh.
PS. You may also want to check out this post, Revisiting "House of the Rising Sun".
So which version of 'Careless Whisper' do you prefer? That of George Michael's or Seether's? I like the latter...especially as the video music is totally 'no-sense'. LOL. Check it out & you know what I'm talking about. Heh.
George Michael - Careless Whisper
Seether - Careless Whisper
Will be very much curious to learn how the legal battle will end. Woo hoo...SPH vs Yahoo! However the result is going to be, SPH is not just reporting news, but it also creates news--and exciting one at that.
Well done, SPH!Local broadsheet The Straits Times, which is published by SPH, reported on Wednesday that Yahoo's Southeast Asia editorial department has "substantially" reproduced articles from its newspapers without proper licensing or authorization. It has since filed the copyright lawsuit with the Singapore High Court last Friday, and the writ and statement of claim were served on Yahoo Southeast Asia on Monday.
The report noted that SPH cited 23 articles as examples of content that Yahoo Southeast Asia had allegedly reproduced on its Web sites. These included political and crime reports first published in its newspapers such as The Straits Times, The New Paper and My Paper during the period between Nov. 16, 2010 and Oct. 20, 2011, it stated.
The lawsuit could potentially be a landmark case as it is believed to be the first legal wrangle between a traditional media owner and a new media organization, the report noted. Ang Peng Hwa, director of the Singapore Internet Research Centre at Nanyang Technological University, agreed, said the case "could set some precedent, depending on what comes out".
Yahoo has since responded to SPH's claims, saying that it has filed a memorandum of appearance with the courts to defend itself against the copyright lawsuit, according to a separate news report.
"We intend to vigorously defend ourselves against this suit. Our editorial business model of acquired, commissioned and original content is proven," said Alan Soon, managing editor at Yahoo Southeast Asia, in the report.
Quizzed by ZDNet Asia, the Web company issued this statement: "We confirm that SPH has commenced litigation against Yahoo Southeast Asia for alleged copyright infringement. This matter has been referred to our legal advisors and as such we are unable to comment further at this time."
From ZDNet Asia News, "SPH sues Yahoo for copyright infringement".
Singslih is mentioned in this CNN video, "English: the language of money" as reported by Liz Neisloss.
Donaldson Tan, the editor of commentary website, New Asia Republic is currently under investigation for allegedly publishing racially offensive posting on the Internet.
Donaldson Tan had reportedly re-posted a picture deemed offensive to Islam on his Facebook wall.
From the Facebook page of "New Asia Republic":
The Online Citizen (TOC) has this to say in "Racist posts on FB by blogger – police investigates": Singapore Police Force is investigating blogger and chief editor of New Asia Republic, Donaldson Tan for re-posting an extremely offensive picture to Muslims; one of a prohibited animal in Islam, superimposed on the Ka’ba – Islam’s most sacred site, on his Facebook. In his report to the police, the complainant, Amran Junid, also highlighted a Serena Lee for posting racist comments on that FB post by Donaldson Tan.
Mr Tan was also revealed as formerly an editor with TOC. He was asked to leave TOC in January 2010, and he subsequently set-up New Asia Republic – a commentary website.A blogger is currently under investigation for allegedly publishing racially offensive posting on the Internet.
Blogger Donaldson Tan had reportedly re-posted a picture deemed offensive to Islam on his Facebook wall.
The picture is of an Islamic holy site (the Ka'ba) superimposed with an animal prohibited in Islam.
Tan is the editor of commentary website, New Asia Republic.
This is the third such case in a week.
The first was Jason Neo, a former member of the People's Action Party's youth wing.
He had posted an offensive caption on his Facebook for a picture depicting Malay children in a school bus.
A few days later, full-time National Serviceman Christian Eliab Ratnam came under investigation for posting a text critical of Islam on his Facebook page.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) says police are investigating several complaints of offensive postings on religion on the Internet and has requested the public let investigations run its course.
MHA warns the public not to add any comments to offensive Internet postings on religion which may further inflame the situation.
It adds that the right to free speech does not extend to making remarks that incite racial and religious friction and conflict.
MHA says the authorities take a very serious view of all instances of racial and religious incitement.
Any person who re-posts or contributes offensive comments to the postings that are the subject of on-going investigations, and is also found to have committed an offence, will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
From Channel NewsAsia, "Blogger under investigation for racially offensive posting".
Somebody forwarded the above 'artwork'. LOL. Twilight: the story divided between zoophilia and necrophilia. How apt!! So anybody who to credit the above picture to?
While waiting for the reply (I bet, none), let's enjoy the trailer of the coming movie of "Twilight - Breaking Dawn".
If you had to choose between (1) killing one person to save the lives of five others and (2) doing nothing even though you knew that five people would die right before your eyes if you did nothing—what would you do? What would be the right thing to do? Thats the hypothetical scenario Professor Michael Sandel uses to launch his course on moral reasoning.
The second part of the video is titled, "THE CASE FOR CANNIBALISM". Quoted: Sandel introduces the principles of utilitarian philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, with a famous nineteenth century legal case involving a shipwrecked crew of four. After nineteen days lost at sea, the captain decides to kill the weakest amongst them, the young cabin boy, so that the rest can feed on his blood and body to survive. The case sets up a classroom debate about the moral validity of utilitarianism—and its doctrine that the right thing to do is whatever produces "the greatest good for the greatest number."
Check out this interesting video--it's worth 54 minutes to see, really:
Reading this article, "Singapore students share their greatest fears"...and thoroughly amused!
In particular of these 2 students' greatest 'fear':
Ailin Cai, 21, is not a fan of the human traffic she faces every morning, which causes her sometimes, to be late for class.
Morgan Singh, 18, finds it a hassle to pick out what to wear in the morning as he is very particular about his image.
The above photo was snapped at Cineleisure. The trailer looks promising. Looking forward for this movie.
Miscellaneous photos--unedited, except to resize the files--taken today. 
1. The statues of elephants greeting you at 313@somerset 
2. One of the elephants (actually there're 3 of them) is named as 'Hellaphunt'.
3. Another is 'A Circle of Life'.
4. H&M
5. A lady shopper leaving H&M.
6. Taken at Cineleisure: Rest Room!!! LOL.
7. And this one the toilet for the disabled. Professor X would have approved it, I'm sure. Heh.
Just by using a cheque which didn't have a matching signature, these 2 men almost got away with the scam involving $500,000 worth of NTU Fairprice vouchers. Well, they did purchase the vouchers--however, only about $15,000 worth of vouchers managed to be used. Two men have been arrested by the police for purchasing $500,000 worth of NTUC Fairprice vouchers using a dishonoured cheque.
The police had received information on Nov 18 that $500,000 worth of NTUC Fairprice vouchers were purchased with a cheque which did not have a matching signature. There were also insufficient funds in the account.
Despite NTUC Fairprice alerting its branches and voiding the vouchers, about $15,000 worth of vouchers were already used.
NTUC Fairprice said in a statement that notices were put up to inform customers that the vouchers will not be accepted.
An alert was also sent out via the company's website, Facebook page and a media statement to advise the public to purchase vouchers only from its stores.
After conducting investigations, the police arrested the duo, aged 19 and 22, near Hougang Street 91 and Bukit Batok East Ave 4.
The officers managed to recover unused NTUC vouchers worth at least $484,000.
Cigarettes, liquor and electrical products which the suspects had purchased using the vouchers were also found.
The two men will be charged in court on November 21 for the offence of Cheating with Common Intention under Section 420 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
They can be jailed up to 10 years.
The police has advised members of the public to be wary of purchasing vouchers or any products from questionable sources as it is an offence to procure stolen goods.
Members of the public who possess any NTUC Fairprice voucher with serial numbers between 607379330 and 607404329 are requested to hand them over at any police station.
Anyone who fails to do so can be jailed up to 5 years, or slapped with a fine, or both.
From Asiaone, "Two arrested for NTUC Fairprice vouchers scam".
I continue my search for more information on Christian Eliab Ratnam (read: google for 'christian eliab ratnam'), and gosh, am I surprised! This NSF guy--who in the previous post is revealed to have uploaded an anti-Islam picture onto his Facebook wall--is also...*sufficient pause for special effect*...a poet!!
Check out his Poem Hunter biography page, "Christian Eliab Ratnam":
Quoted:Date Of Birth: 27th March 1990
Place Of Birth: Singapore
About The Poet: Anyway I am a deep thinker and an avid reader. Writing poems is my passion! My main source of inspiration is the Bible although many other events and circumstances do sometimes give me the spur to write. Poetry is the essence of all things written. It is the projection of valuable deep thoughts brought forth in all it's beauty and glory! A wonderful stress reliever, I must say! I hope you enjoy my poems!
Praise Be To G-D! ! !
Quote For Thought! ! !
'Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.' -Andre Gide.
Oh, by the way Christian Eliab Ratnam has penned 46 poems so far. From his very first poem uploaded on 9 Feb 2005, "The Voice Of My Saviour"--till his 46th on 6 Dec 2010, "Yearning".
And no, I haven't gone through each and every poem of his--so I cannot really say for sure whether his poems are also about anti-Islam. I very much doubt so, or else netizens would have been protested way earlier.
How dare this full-time national serviceman, one Christian Eliab Ratnam! He posted on his Facebook wall a picture of text that criticises Islam--and as the photo above, he still is smiling?!?!?!
Stoopid, stoopid. Any religion is NOT to be criticised! Mind you that...or else, yes, expect some lightning strikes on you!!
Like this, perhaps... 
A police spokesman confirmed yesterday that they are looking into an incident where a full-time national serviceman (NSF) posted on his Facebook wall a picture of text that criticises Islam.
The NSF, identified as Mr Christian Eliab Ratnam, had posted a picture of text claiming that Islam is not a religion but 'an authoritarian, political doctrine which imposes itself by force', among other inflammtory things.
His Facebook account has since been deactivated, but an edited screenshot was put up on the TOC website.
The Straits Times reported that a police report has been lodged about the posting and a letter complaining about the post was sent to the newspaper's forum, as well as Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Mohamad Maliki Osman, former People's Action Party MP Maidin Packer and sociopolitical blog The Online Citizen (TOC).
TOC later ran a statement from Mr Ratnam apologising for the posting. He stated that he was not affiliated with any group nor did he wish to cause disharmony.
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said that it 'takes a serious view on the conduct of its servicemen in public'.
"Police investigations are ongoing. Mindef is assisting and appropriate actions will be taken if necessary."
This is the second incident this week. A Young People's Action Party (YPAP) member, Jason Neo, is being investigated for an ffensive caption of a picture of Malay children in a schoolbus, which he uploaded onto Facebook.
It is also reported that Mr Ratnam appears to support pro-Israel and Jewish causes, according to checks on the Internet.
Images of Israel's flag and the symbol for the Israel Defence Forces could be seen on his Facebook page. Mr Ratnam is also a member of a Facebook group for Israelis and Jews living in Singapore.
In a Facebook group called 'anti-feminist empire', Mr Ratnam made a posting that directed readers to another group, 'Submissive and Obedient Wives (For G-d and Husband)', which is started by his wife.
The group quotes extensively from the Bible and Torah, and advocates that a wife submit, obey and revere her husband.
From Asiaone, "Police investigate NSF over text criticising Islam".Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said it takes a serious view of the conduct of its servicemen in public.
It said this in response to media queries on reports that a full-time national serviceman (NSF) had posted on his Facebook wall a picture of text that criticises Islam.
The NSF was identified as Mr Christian Eliab Ratnam.
His alleged act was condemned by netizens, while his account has been deactivated.
In a statement on Sunday, Director of Public Affairs of MINDEF, Colonel Desmond Tan, said police investigations are ongoing.
He said MINDEF is assisting in the probe and will take appropriate actions, if necessary.
This is the second such investigation this month.
A former PAP Youth Wing member, Jason Neo, is also under investigation for an offensive caption on his Facebook account of Malay children in a school bus.
From Channel NewsAsia, "Mindef takes serious view of NSF conduct in public".
LOL. Nothing racist, mind you. Perhaps gamist (if such a word does exist!).
Russell Peters shared an exaggeration on how Asians--a specific example, Singaporeans--love to play the arcade game, Dance Dance Revolution. Heh. Do check the clip at about 3 minutes 30 seconds onwards.
Russell Peters, a real funny guy. Grin.
So if it is not 'Immortals' for the movie I'll watch this weekend (heh, maybe tomorrow?!), I may consider watching 'Kaiji 2'. The review from The Urban Wire, "Kaiji 2: Beating the odds" seems promising. And in any case, I did enjoy the first Kaiji. Heh.
Check out the trailers of Kaiji 2 & Kaiji.
The trailers may seem darn cool, but the reviews of the movie, Immortals are giving different picture altogether. Check out the reviews in Rotten Tomatoes, the review online, and wired.com.
Yes. The title is inspired by the movie, The Matrix. A similarity in the name of the movie protagonist, Neo is simply too hard to resist to be used in this little post of mine.
Alas, Jason Neo is no Neo of the Matrix. He is for sure not The One who will climb the ladder higher in the Young People's Action Party--in fact he has resigned due to a "moment's folly"--incredibly stupid!!--by posting a religiously and racially very option caption to a photograph on his Facebook page.
The offensive photo had been reproduced in one particular Facebook account by Firdaus Venezio. Angry comments have since flourished in that page. Understandably so. (Note: I see no point of including the URL of the FB page. Why spread the flame if what we're interested more is how the culprit is severely punished?!)
Meanwhile the opposition party, NSP is quick to release a Response to remarks by former YPAP member on Facebook. Issued by Hazel Poa, the Secretary-General, the statement is surprisingly not a criticism to the YP or PAP. Partially quoted: "The remark made on Facebook by a former member of the Young PAP regarding a school bus of Muslim children was unquestionably irresponsible and inflammatory. However, condemning an entire organization because of the actions of one of its members is not a solution. No organization can monitor everything that each member says, all the time."
Well said, Ms Poa. Let's just hope other politicians from the opposition parties are as mature as you are.
Back to Neo--Jason Neo--it's reported at least 3 police reports have been made against him. Hmm...if only it's like the scene where Neo--in the Matrix--is being interrogated by Agent Smith. Heh. Wishful thinking.
On another note, I just recall I did blog about racism once in 2008 in this post, "Racism is only funny in..."Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay". Not in the real world...or in the blogosphere.". Yeah, a pity that people still do the same mistake.
Harsher punishment against the offender, please.A Young People's Action Party (YP) member has resigned from the People’s Action Party (PAP) after one of his online posts sparked accusations of racism.
Mr Jason Neo, 30, had posted a religiously and racially offensive caption to a photograph which he uploaded on his Facebook page.
The posting showed a photo he had taken of a school bus with Malay children from Huda Kindergarten, in Woodlands, dressed in their uniform which includes traditional Malay headwear.
His caption said: 'Bus filled with young terrorist trainees?'
This posting, which was made in February before he joined the PAP, went viral recently.
An online furore followed, drawing criticism from Malay opposition politicians and playwright Alfian Sa'at, among others.
His actions were also condemned by YP leaders, including YP chairman Teo Ser Luck.
At least three police reports have been made against him, and the police are investigating the matter.
Mr Neo has also issued an apology on his Facebook page, saying he made the post was out of a "moment's folly" and did not, in any way, represent the view of the PAP or the YP.
He said: "I hereby offer those within our Muslim community and anyone else offended my most sincere and unreserved apology."
Mr Neo, a volunteer at Meet-the-People sessions in Sembawang, had joined the YP in June.
From Asiaone, "PAP Youth member quits over 'racist' online posting".The youth wing of the People's Action Party (PAP) said it has learnt a lesson from the recent saga, involving a member who posted a racially offensive caption to a photograph on Facebook. The party said it will have more stringent checks of members, including their online behaviour.
This picture with the caption "Bus filled with young terrorist trainees?" was posted on Facebook in February. It recently went viral and sparked accusations of racism.
The posting was made by Young PAP member, Jason Neo, and drew strong criticism.
When news broke of Mr Neo's posting, he was asked to resign from the party immediately. Young PAP said it needed to take swift action to send a strong message that it will not tolerate racist behaviour from its members.
Young PAP chairman Teo Ser Luck, said: "It's really about sending the right signal to the rest of the party members. I think it's important to let them know that our party actually does respect each other's race, religion, and different cultures."
"Whether it's his moment of folly or it's just something that's unintended, it's already been done. I think it's important for us as YP, or PAP, to take action very quickly, to show that we have no space for such things."
Young PAP said it will have to improve its selection process. Previously, it relied on character references to screen potential members. But with the increasing popularity of social media, a new layer of checks may need to be added.
Zaqy Mohamad, vice chairman of Young PAP, said: "It's a lesson learnt for us, that we have to perhaps do a thorough background check on members. But at the same, you would have to do it at different layers because we have thousands of members. So it's impossible, it would not be wise to do a 100% check on everyone. But as they take up appointments, as they hold senior appointments in the PAP, I think we have to be more stringent as they get up higher."
Mr Zaqy said the induction of new members has mostly been left to branch activists. But moving forward, the headquarters will need to be more involved.
He said: "I think it's worthwhile now to ensure that we have a central messaging mechanism to continuous update our members, not just remind them. It's about updating them on new norms or if there are new developments out there that they need to be aware of."
Police said reports have been lodged against Mr Neo, and investigations are ongoing. Mr Zaqy added that the investigations should be allowed to run its course.
From Channel NewsAsia, "Young PAP to have more stringent checks on members".
