Letters

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Archives - 2005

Telling half the story
Mas Selamat
Depressing small-mindedness
JB police disrupts mourning
And the Answer Is…
Don’t compete on the same event
American vs English

Rethink the scholarship awards
The Thaksin lesson
RE Scholars - Are they the best people to run....
Singapore: Producing a Gate-Buffet? - Jul 4, 2006
Why maids land in Batam - Jan 24, 2006

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Telling half the story
In the Forum page of The Straits Times published on 27 September 2008 was a letter headlined “Top dollar for star talent” written by a Syu Ying Kwok.
He/She wrote: “Few know that Mr Paulson’s net worth is more than US$600m and at one time he earned more than US$34m a year from Goldman Sachs. It will always be a challenge for any government to fill its posts and we should not skimp on paying the right people to do the job.”
Does he/she see the irony of his/her words.
Mr Paulson cannot be earning as much as US$400,000 which George Bush as US president earns. The pay of our ministers is pegged to the top earners in Singapore and is revised periodically to reflect the changes in the private sector. Their pay needs to be high to attract the right talent.
So they actually sacrifice very little if at all they do – in return for the power and prestige of their positions as ministers, which are a heady brew for many people.
Many start as president and SAF scholars, and they have their career paths mapped out for them, right up to the ministerial level, after which they are rewarded with a high position in a government-linked company or public body.
Where is the sacrifice in this ascendancy? One can even venture to describe this path to glory as a reward for excellence in studies, loyalty to the establishment and, of course, working for the success of Singapore Inc.
But can we say that there is commitment to a cause, a sense of noblesse oblige found in the landed gentry, of giving back to society, which I think Mr Paulson is doing? If they justify their high pay, how do they give back to society?
Would our young ministers have joined the People’s Action Party when it was fighting for its independence, when there was no guarantee that it would win against the Barisan Socialis? Would they have accepted the pay cuts in the early days of the PAP government?
Many would say that the commitment is actually found in the ranks of the opposition party, knowing full well that in the foreseeable future there is no chance of the ruling party losing an election, and the constant fear, founded or otherwise, that they may attract the ire of the authorities by their stance on national matters we discuss as citizens in the coffee shops.
Blinkers Off
Oct 1, 2008

Mas Selamat
It is foolhardy for Singapore to hold an inquiry on how Mas Selamat has escaped from detention at the ISA camp in Whitley Road…without the main protagonist, Mas Selamat, being present. Any conclusion reached can be undone by future statements issued by the main protagonist the moment he is captured to give his version on how he has escaped. His story may match the findings the commission of inquiry has discovered; if this is the case, the conclusions reached by the commission will be vindicated. If not, Spore’s reputation which has “already taken a knock” will be subjected to further ridicule to a degree where we may not be able to raise our head high.
Why risk forming a commission of inquiry at this stage of the man hunt? Is it for the purpose of assigning blame? Again, without the presence of MS it will not be fair to point the finger on anyone involved in the custody of the now infamous prisoner without concrete proof on how MS has escaped from the camp through what has been described as a “physical” lapse.
If the inquiry is not formed for the above reasons, then I can only surmise that it is formed as a knee jerk reaction to a situation which has never been pondered to have been possible to take place in a society as safe and secured as Singapore.
Thank you. Truly yours,
SK Wan

Depressing small-mindedness
Dear Editor
The Straits Times reported that the Complaints Choir was not allowed by the Ministry of Information and the Arts (MITA) to perform in public because it had a few foreigners among the 50-strong choir (ST, 29 January).
The choir's song is a spoof, a cheeky rendition of some peeves that vex Singaporeans. But MITA says the content is about Singapore and therefore the few foreigners in the choir must be excluded since they would be commenting on domestic issues - merely by singing. What if these few just danced to the beat of the song without singing a word?
What if it was a Praises Choir with a song full of praises about what's excitingly right with Singapore and there were foreigners in the choir? Would MITA still exclude the foreigners as a condition for public performances?
By MITA's rationale, they would still be excluded because they would be commenting on domestic issues though in this case the choir would be singing praises instead of complaints. Or would it be case of "praises welcome, complaints not welcome"?
In this context, Jack Neo should first obtain approval from MITA should he plan a movie featuring a cameo part for Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) satirising some aspects of public policy.
It's time Singapore saw none of such depressing small-mindedness. Would we rather have foreigners laugh with us than at us? We can't be too serious all the time - there's a time to wear a jacket and there's a time to wear a T-shirt.
We can't just be over-achieving economic animals. MITA's interference in this instance makes us look silly to ourselves - and foreigners.
By Tan Chak Lim
Jan 28, 2008

JB police
Disrupts mourning
Crime victim, respected educator's body taken away by police during church mass. malaysiakini letter.
Oct 20, 2007
By Geoff Wade, Singapore
It was with some grave concern that I was informed of a recent event in Johor Bahru and it is felt that the matter is of such importance that it should be drawn to Malaysiakini’s attention.
You may have read that Elizabeth Chew Gaik Im, a well respected educator, was attacked and killed by some motorcyclists in Johor Bahru on Sept 30 during a robbery. That in itself was obviously a matter of immeasurable sadness for the family.
However, during the mass for her held in the Sacred Heart Church in JB on Oct 2, that sadness was to be immensely compounded by the intentionally disruptive actions of the Johor police.
The police went to the church during the mass for the departed and demanded the body of Ms Chew for forensic purposes.
They then took away the body during the mass to the understandable sorrow of not only the family but everyone of her friends present to celebrate her life.
There is no scientific need for a forensic examination two days after the event to be conducted precisely during a religious service.
Such action can only be described as inhuman and could only be premised on arrogance and spite. Might an apology to the family by the police be in order?
In full: http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/73755

And the Answer Is…
Every day, Radio 93.8 conducts a quiz game with its listeners. Those who manage to have their call picked up (a tough thing, because so many want to play the game) stand a chance to win $40 worth of prizes if they come up with the correct answers.
On 1 October, just before the 3.30 pm news bulletin, two listeners had a go at the question, which was: “What does PS stand for at the end of a person’s letter?”
They were both male and adult from the way they talked. They sounded educated. too.
I thought I would cry with shame upon hearing their answers. The first suggested that it meant “personal note” and the second offered “Plaza Singapura”.
I congratulate the radio DJ who did not flinch at both answers and very coolly and cheerfully told them they got it wrong and gave them the correct answer (postscript), with hardly a hint of sarcasm.
How can it be possible that we are able to listen to this? From these two answers can we possible guess if Singapore is a First World country with nearly the highest per capita income in Asia and one of the highest standards of education in the world?
Doesn’t Singapore have universal education, and isn’t primary education compulsory here?
Or should we look at how our young are taught in school? Is Singapore on the way to becoming
the education hub of this region?
Who can we attribute these two answers to?
Shocked and Saddened

Don’t compete on the same event
I refer to an article I read in yahoo.com.sg about a Malaysian minister's view on Singapore holding F1 (Formula-One racing).
I think Malaysia is a very interesting country.
They demand Singapore not to compete with them on the same track. However, let's not forget that Malaysia goes all the way out to crash PSA by attracting the shipping giants to Tanjong Pelepas at the expense of even having to subsidise their operating costs (ie, loss-loss situation).
Looks like the "Mahathir Disease" is going to be around in Malaysia for quite a while.
A Singaporean
Mar 27, 2007

American vs English
Should Singaporeans learn American or English?
Since primary school in the 80s to university in Singapore's education system, the spelling of simple words lazer vs laser, globalization vs globalisation, etc or more obscure ones like dived and dove for the past tense of dive
The education does not recognise both as correct which incidentally resulted in my English and General paper scores penalised throughout my school days!
Even in university in Singapore, the professors from Commonwealth nations would give me curious remarks in my essays.
Once at work however, the American spelling seems to dominate most articles I read and is widely more accepted as the correct spelling. (I don’t reside primarily in Singapore now)
So, are we teaching the wrongly in the generations to come and perhaps a change should be underway.
Blueforever
Jan 4, 2007
(Editor: I suppose that’s due to growing influence of US education and commerce. I believe Singapore generally sticks to the English version but has no problem with the occasional US spelling).

Rethink the scholarship awards
It’s well known by now that recently a man committed suicide with only a few dollars in his pocket.
On the 30 Oct, Straits Times reported that NUS was having difficulties raising enough funds from its Alumni to help needy students, on the same night, Ms Diana Ser reported on the TV program "Get Real!" how many poor families are struggling day to day.
These are not things to be proud of.
Even if we say resources to help are limited, are resources going to the right places? One place to look at is the allocation of publicly funded scholarships.
It is no secret that a not insignificant number of these scholarships are awarded to students from families that need no financial assistance whatsoever, and numbers are increasing.
How can one justify spending public funds to educate the child of a millionaire when more deserving causes exist?
Like it or not, a scholarship is a fast track to a highly paid public career and possibly public office.
Rightly or not, scholars are also expected to be the future leaders of our nation, as a demonstration of their moral leadership, those who can easily afford to could finance their own education and still retain the title of "Scholar" and all its future rewards.
Have any scholars or their parents ever done so?
Are there statistics available on the family income and net worth of our scholarship holders?
Its time the government rethink the awarding of scholarships, those who can afford their own education should only be given the title, the money can be better spent elsewhere.
Signed Cynic
Nov 1, 2006

The Thaksin lesson
I wrote the following letter a week before the Thai coup. Seemed like a bit of a pre-monition. When I was working in Indonesia, the British bank that I was with refused to have any dealings with the Suharto family as it was seen as a double-edged sword.
Dear Editor,
I refer to your article on the hottest political issue in the Thai media again accusing Temasek Holdings of wrongdoing over its purchase of Shin Corp from the family of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
itching our investment bandwagon onto the first family is a double-edged sword. We can get up higher with their rising star but when they fall, we can fall too.
Our investment must stand up to scrutiny in the eyes of the law. But it must also not get bad press and or public backlash. There must be compliance to corporate governance and transparency.
We must be able to sleep peacefully at night, knowing that we have done the right thing. Our parents and family must be proud of what we do.
Danny Chua
Sep 26, 2006

RE Scholars - Are they the best people to run....
"In a changed world that now competes on free-flowing ideas, Singapore's tradition of choosing the best scholars to run an over-regulated nation is increasingly being questioned."
I agree. I, of course, know nothing of the Scholars in Singapore, but I DO know the damage scholars are committing here in America.
Their far-left policies and activites are daily weakening our resolve to win the war against terrorism.
Nat Hooper
Oxford, Arkansas
USA

Singapore
Producing a Gate-Buffet?
The Sunday Times on 2 July published an interview with Warren Buffet and Bill and Melinda Gates on their venture to give their billions away, as well as a companion piece which asked an almost rhetorical question. Will Singapore ever produce a philanthropist like Bill Gates?
Without seeming to be cynical, I think the likelihood is almost zero.
Not because Singaporeans don’t know how to make money. But because Singaporeans are chained down by Confucian values, recently modified to “Asian values”.
Confucius tells leaders to lead by example and for followers to revere and obey their exalted leaders. He also tells them to keep the family as the most important unit in the feudal society.
Since then, mandarins have interpreted the ancient sage as exhorting the people to look after and guard the interests of their own families above all else, even at the expense of the public interest.
In China, a successful officer of the imperial court or a thriving businessman is obliged to share their largesse with their kinfolk, from siblings to distant cousins.
He is also obliged to his ancestors to make sure that future generations are taken care of. How can he then give away his wealth to strangers instead to his sons and daughters?
The ghosts of his ancestors would haunt him. And you know how the Chinese are frightened of ghosts of all kinds.
Follower of the precept
Jul 4, 2006

Why maids land in Batam
Reading the front-page article "Standard contract will grant maids a level playing field" in the 24 January 2006 issue of TODAY, I would like to suggest an additional clause, if it is not already in the contract.
The additional clause should read -- in the event that the employer is dissatisfied with the work of the maid, the agent sends the maid back to her home town/village.
I believe this suggestion has a beneficial effect -- that the island of Batam does not become the dumping ground of unwanted Indonesian maids who add to the burgeoning population of sex workers there.
It seems that the standard practice among unscrupulous agents (who want to save on the repatriation cost of an expensive airline ticket to Java or Sumatra?) is to buy cheap one-way ferry tickets to Batam for the rejected maids.
Once on the island these poor young village girls, innocent and unsuspecting of the cruelty that awaits them, are stranded in an alien place and have no means or knowledge of how to get back to where they came from. They naturally become easy targets of the pimps waiting there for them.
Not many people are aware of this sad but common practice. Perhaps the authorities in both Singapore and Indonesia should look into this unsavoury side of the maid agency business.
South Sea Bubble
Jan 24, 2006