Skip Navigation Links

Latest

20 May 2019
Movement for change
Feedback View - 51
Why the current govt will fall

Rachel Ash said. Mr Tan Why do we keep assuming that the ruling party would continue to be the next government? Though I suspect, they would be, but a "lie repeated long enough may become truth". It is still very early to conclude either with plenty of wild cards at hand: 1. Lee family saga - sibling rivalry may be the tipping point with the kitchen sink thrown in, 2. First in modern histor......



View full post
20 May 2019
MOTOR INSURANCE
Suggestion View - 85
Build a sense of unity

DPM Heng Swee Keat said that a key challenge in Singapore is to build "a sense of unity amidst challenges". Click h......



View full post
19 May 2019
Movement for change
Suggestion View - 168
Why the politically aware must vote non PAP

Many people who are politically aware of the situation in Singapore and the future for their children want to vote for change.  But they are worried that it might cause the PAP govt to collapse and cause uncertainty to the future of Singapore.  Here are some facts that they should consider: a) The majority of the voters are not politically aware and are likely to vote for the PAP b) If all those w......



View full post
19 May 2019
Ministry of Manpower
Suggestion View - 54
Reduce youth unemployment

The best way to reduce youth unemployment is to create more jobs. More jobs can be created by reducing the working hours. If the working hours is reduced by 10%, there will be a need for 10% more workers.  However, it may be possible that the current deployment is inefficient, so a reduction in working hours will be partially met by removing the slack in the current workforce.  Nevertheless, there should still b......



View full post
19 May 2019
Ministry of Law
Feedback View - 114
Worrisome features about POFMA

I attended a forum organised by Function 8 about POFMA, the fake news law.  The panelists point out the following worrisome features about POFMA: a) The govt can exempt certain people from the law. They have already taken the decision to exempt ministers.  A speaker pointed out that the law should apply to everybody and nobody should be exempted - even minister. Does this mean that a minister can make a falsehoo......



View full post
19 May 2019
Prime Minister Office
Suggestion View - 52
GE

Would suggest that campaign days for General Election be at least 14 days. We would like to hear more from candidates including rebuttals against each other.  GE is important and should not be rushed. ......



View full post
18 May 2019
Ministry of Manpower
Suggestion View - 27
Send strong message to errant maid agencies

That employers of foreign domestic workers are often left helpless with little to no recourse is true, and I strongly agree with Mr Lawrence Loh Kiah Muan (Protect interests of maid employers too, May 14). I, too, have gone through many rounds of the hiring process and have experienced maids who lied about their age or did not have the experience that they claimed to have had. When I questioned them about the deception, they said they w......



View full post
18 May 2019
Ministry of Education
Suggestion View - 5
Have open forum to help those struggling with voyeuristic behaviour

Recently, Ms Denise Phua, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education, said in response to the rise in voyeurism cases on campuses: "One case is one too many. It is critical to also develop an effective communications strategy to ensure all current and future students are kept fully aware of what is not acceptable behaviour and the consequences thereof" (Stronger disciplinary measures right way to go: Students, MPs, May 16). So far......



View full post
18 May 2019
Ministry of Law
Suggestion View - 66
How can POFMA be improved?

I wish to suggest what is wrong with the fake news law or POFMA and what can be done to improve it. First, here are the features that are wrong: a) The law targets the wrong activities. It is not falsehood that is wrong, but hate news.  b) The actors are not necessary the anti-establishment people; even the establishment people can engage in hate news.  c)  The law creates a new set of people......



View full post
17 May 2019
Ministry of Law
Suggestion View - 76
Let the court decide on what is fake news

Under the POFMA or fake news law, any of the 20 ministers can make a determination that a news is false and require the news item to be corrected or taken down.  I suggest that this determinaition should be made by the court, rather than a minister. This will ensure that there is consistency in making the determination. If I am not mistaken, the minister for law has said that this approach would be time consuming.  br ......



View full post
17 May 2019
Ministry of Social & Family Dev
Suggestion View - 49
Allow foreign spouses to live in Singapore as home makers

I think there is an unspoken policy that foreign spouses should be well educated and able to work in Singapore and earn a high income. This is why the low income locals are not able to marry a foreign spouse and bring them to live in Singapore. I think that this policy is short sighted. It does not recognize the value of home makers. If the foreign spouse is prepared to be a home maker and to raise two ......



View full post
17 May 2019
Land Transport Authority
Feedback View - 12
Why so few summonses issued for cycling offences?

I was shocked that only 1,555 summonses were issued by the police for cycling offences last year (Fewer cyclists hurt in accidents but more caught breaking rules, May 13). This works out to an average of about four summonses issued a day. Daily, in the 20 minutes that I take my dog for a walk, I have observed thatonly one in 10 cyclists had their front lights switched on and only one in 20 had both front and rear lights switched on.br ......



View full post
17 May 2019
Land Transport Authority
Feedback View - 66
Don't let actions of few mar image of riders

There will always be irresponsible people, whether they are motorists, cyclists, e-scooter riders or even pedestrians. While stern action should be taken against offenders, we should not let the actions of this group affect other responsible riders (Ban e-scooters until infrastructure is in place, by Mr Remesh Panicker, May 11; and Little need for PMDs in S'pore, by Dr Yik Keng Yeong, May 14). As a freelancer who shuttles between meetin......



View full post
17 May 2019
Immigration and Checkpoint Authority
Suggestion View - 81
Don't separate foreigner-Singaporean couples

In Singapore, there is an unspoken problem - foreign spouses of citizens face difficulties in being able to stay with their spouses here. When such a couple register their marriage in Singapore, it is made clear to them that being married to a Singaporean does not mean the foreign spouse has the right to stay in the country. This sets a bitter tone at the start of the marriage. Currently, it seems there are no clear crite......



View full post
16 May 2019
Ministry of Health
Suggestion View - 89
Simplify Medisave and make it voluntary

I saw a 10 page booklet explaining about Medisave. It tells what Medisave can be used for and the limits that apply. As the booklet is in 4 languages, it covers 40 pages. As there are limits, it means that for each treatment, the patient can use Medisave to pay for some of the cost and has to pay for the other cost in cash. It is certainly quite troublesome, complicated a......



View full post
16 May 2019
Ministry of Manpower
Suggestion View - 89
Jobs for Singaporeans

Someone said that the govt prefers to have foreign workers to be employed, rather than locals. I asked him to explain his remark.  He said that the govt receives a levy of between $300 to $950 a month for each foreign worker that is employed on a work permit or S-pass.  They do not get this levy for a local worker.  The employer pays the wages of the foreign worker and the levy. The employer wants to contro......



View full post
16 May 2019
Ministry of National Dev
Suggestion View - 101
Distortion in residential property market

The govt offers a grant for a citizen to buy a new or resale HDB flat. This grant is very attractive, as the buyer can realize it when he sells the flat after 5 years. There is no such subsidy when the family rents a flat. Furthermore, the high contribution rate forces citizens to buy a HDB flat, because they cannot use the contribution to pay the rental. This distorts th......



View full post
16 May 2019
Ministry of Health
Feedback View - 156
SMC's appeal for leniency a positive step

The fact that the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) has appealed for a more lenient sentence for orthopaedic surgeon Lim Lian Arn is a positive step for the council and the medical fraternity (SMC appeals for leniency for doctor fined $100,000, May 10). It is a promising sign when the leadership is willing to reverse its decision and review its mistakes. To err is human, no matter what power and authority the SMC holds, and having the hum......



View full post
16 May 2019
National Parks Board
Suggestion View - 3
Milk potential of Jurong Lake Gardens

I recently visited Jurong Lake Gardens in Yuan Ching Road and realised that some parts could be improved to make the garden more conducive to residents, locals and tourists. The boardwalks and the cement paths are well laid-out and, in the evening, the garden is an ideal place for a slow walk. However, there is only one cafe and toilet near the entrance. There should be more food and beverage (F&B) kiosks and toilets in this sprawling garden.br /......



View full post
15 May 2019
Land Transport Authority
Negative View - 113
Call to register PMD

Just yesterday evening, I was nearly hit by a speeding Personal Mobility Devices (PMD) on a pedestrian walkway along River Valley Road. The arguments put forth by PAP ministers are idiotic. One, PMDs complement our larger efforts towards a ‘car-lite’ society. Two, it bridges the first and last mile gap of some public transport such as the MRT. Those are clever and seductive rhetoric but they cannot stand up to deeper scrutiny. Le......



View full post
15 May 2019
Singapore Airlines
Feedback View - 115
Has SIA done due diligence on Boeing 787 jets?

Recent revelations from The New York Times have cast a serious negative light on the manufacturing process of the Boeing 787 jet at the company's plant in North Charleston, South Carolina (Boeing's Dreamliner draws scrutiny after claims of shoddy production, April 22). It is alleged that during assembly of the 787 jets in the Charleston plant, corners were cut in quality and safety standards to meet the production schedule. Recently, Si......



View full post
15 May 2019
Ministry of Health
Feedback View - 189
Tackle high inflation in medical industry

High medical inflation in Singapore and, in particular, high annual increases in hospitalisation insurance plan premiums have been an issue for several years, despite attempts by the authorities to address it. I recently noted that the annual premium for my hospitalisation plan went up by 19 per cent from last year to $2,605. When I first started this plan in 2015, my premium was $1,282. It has since increased by an avera......



View full post
14 May 2019
Land Transport Authority
Feedback View - 62
Little need for PMDs in S'pore

Our efforts to become a car-lite society resulted in a solution to the first-and last-mile connectivity conundrum in the form of personal mobility devices (PMDs). This has, however, created a problem of shared spaces between the incompatible modes of transportation of PMDs and walking (Ban e-scooters until infrastructure is in place, by Mr Remesh Panicker, May 11). Given that an MRT station will eventually be within 10 minutes' walk of ......



View full post
14 May 2019
Land Transport Authority
Feedback View - 16
Pressing questions on PMDs need to be answered

Several MPs have raised pertinent and valid questions and comments about personal mobility devices (PMDs) (Town councils can ban PMD use at void decks: Lam Pin Min, May 8). However, the replies to these questions seem to show a lack of insight and a confused regulatory system of law enforcement on the use of PMDs as a means of transport. Whether town councils are given the flexibility to enforce their own rules on PMDs is not a major co......



View full post
14 May 2019
Ministry of Environment
Suggestion View - 7
Reducing waste: Mass movement needed to educate public

The large majority of the population is not aware of the proper way to recycle bottles and paper boxes, which must be cleaned of all the food and liquids before being deposited (More being done to improve awareness of recycling, by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, May 7). Even in my own household, I am the only one who washes bottles before placing them in the recycling bin. The rest of my family continues to dispose of items witho......



View full post
14 May 2019
Housing Development Board
Suggestion View - 236
Affordable housing

The prices of new HDB flats are too high. Even after a large government grant, the net cost to the buyer will take away a large part of the CPF savings and disposable income. One factor for the high price is the need to pay for 99 years of the lease of the flat.  The government can make housing affordable by adopting this approach: a) They can provide new or pre-owned HDB flats and offer them for rental at 15% to 20% of the income ......



View full post
13 May 2019
Ministry of Home Affairs
Suggestion View - 8
Step up security in places of worship

The perpetrators of the terror attacks in Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Paris have no place in a peaceful society like ours, and anyone who tries to disrupt this peace must be brought to justice. Places of worship are sacred places that must be respected, and measures must be taken to prevent terrorists from intruding. Places of worship should be required by law to install ......



View full post
13 May 2019
Ministry of Education
Suggestion View - 8
Make national language compulsory

With Singapore commemorating its bicentennial this year, I think it is a good time to make Malay, Singapore's national language, compulsory in schools. I got to know more about Singapore's heritage and Malay culture while following the bicentennial celebrations, and I now understand why our national language is Malay. I now feel more pride when singing our National Anthe......



View full post
13 May 2019
Ministry of Manpower
Suggestion View - 43
Relook foreign worker policy for F&B

I read with dismay that the Hock Lam Beef chain is set to close, citing manpower constraints facing the food and beverage (F&B) sector (108-year-old beef noodle chain to close down, May 5). These appear to be due to the Government's tightened foreign worker policy, in reaction to the electoral ba......



View full post
13 May 2019
Ministry of Trade & Industry
Feedback View - 95
Allow Hyflux to fall into foreign control?

Two white knights have expressed interest to buy Hyflux. They are a utilities company in the UAE and a global investment fund.  Presumably, these potential investors see some value in investing in Hyflux.  What about the funds that are based in Singapore, including our govt agencies? Do they not see any value in preserving a home grown unicorn? Perhaps they are worried about being accused of "bailing out" Hyflux......



View full post