Sex for Contracts Case 2

The continuing CPIB court saga of IT Manager Cecilia Sue and ex-CNB chief, Ng Boon Gay. If they only had a Dummies guide.

Sex for Contracts Case 1

In recent news: IT Manager testify against ex-CNB chief in 'Sex for Contracts' case.

What would you do if you were in Cecilia Sue Siew Nang's place? Before that, read a Dummies' book (unless you intend to be complicit).

Letter to Forum 3: Sg Conversation: Let's Make Pizza...

The original letter:

Dear Editor,

Rachel Chang's article "SG Conversation: Can't wait to get going" highlighted the difficult nature of this Conversation. There are plural groups and an equal number of differing views. It is Singles vs Married, Traditionalists vs Liberals. So, who shall prevail? If we agree to disagree, then what? Bearing in mind that this conversation is about "The Singapore We Want," but what do we really want and how shall we go about it? Friday's session sounded like a feedback session with its select group. Each had his/her own tale to tell. Answers from the office bearers were clip. I too want a conversation with the government. To tell it of my years of growing up, working and thinking about retirement. I also want to share my aspirations. I am old but not yet dying. Singapore now is very different from 40 yrs ago. We have good processes aided by seamless technology. We have institutions that are world-class. We can conduct a consensus with people in their 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s,....every decade and see the picture they paint, of the Singapore they want, had wanted and perhaps not gotten. That is just as important. But the basic question is: How is the Government going to carry out its wish-fulfillment so to speak? Asking it to do this-and-that afterwards is a tall order. Another way is to serve up what the customer orders. You want your pizza to have no anchovies? Sure. More pepperoni? No problem. Translated, that can mean many things. Study later? Sure. Just fix me a date. Want to start a family young? Let's see how we can start and get this going...

It's about both sides working hand-in-hand to achieve something that's less top-down or even bottom-up. It's all about getting something done. Period. In that sense, it does mean a change in how the civil service is handling matters. It's no longer Government-to-People, but Government-to-Person. Can this be done? Is Singapore a global city or a global village. As a citizen, Singapore to me is a village and so it should relate to me as a person. And when that happens I might just be reasonable about what I want and how I (we) might get it.

TC Lai

Forum Letter 2: What doing away with banding means...

The original letter:


Dear Editor:

I welcome MOE's decision to do away with banding and encourage schools to find their niche areas. No doubt schools that already have their niche will be celebrating (like Chinese orchestra, choir, etc), but I hope they use this opportunity to expand beyond their comfort zone. Lest parents think academic results will slide, they should be glad that their kids will perhaps learn in a less drilled and robotic fashion. Hopefully, gone will be the days when kids come home with 50 problem sums to drill over (happened to my neighbour's kid). A child must learn and grade a pass, but let's hope they can now learn better AND enjoy a more eventful school life. Even academic societies in schools can get a boost (like the Math/Science club, etc). It's about moving away from "a field of daisies" to allow more sunflowers to sprout and stand tall!

Still, I wonder how many know how to leverage on such a momentous decision. When the sole focus on academic achievements go, schools, parents, communities and interest groups can now sit down and explore how to tap on each other's expertise and network. This has been the problem with our communities thus far, the oft-complaint that "we shut our doors and ignore our neighbours," rings true. If we have been ignoring our neighbours what more to say of our children needs in the community? For example, how does a Sembawang kid differ from one in Tiong Bahru? In the past, the distinction had been "ulu" vs "city". In the future, I hope kids, given more time to explore other areas, can claim to know his community/neighbourhood well. That he/she was acknowledged by his communal folks as someone who could write, photograph, cook, paint, etc. in the most prodigal manner. Or even grow up to be a brilliant soldier ("Oh yes, we all know him since young to be an excellent NCC cadet back in school!") Schools across a community can even work better together to showcase and share what they are trying to do instead of competing with one another. They can now be brother-in-arms. We have seen many instances of schools and kids in the U.S. prospering once communities get involved. Singapore is a microcosm by itself; we have no excuse for not doing better.

Voiding banding will liberate schools. It will liberate even more, and it is something we should discuss further in our National Conversation.

TC Lai

VIPandas

Another take on Today newspaper's graphic:

Singapore Pledges

Note: These Singapore Pledges were created tongue-in-cheek before the run up to National Day on the 9th of August 2012.

1. Singapore Pledge for Foodies 2012

2. Singapore Pledge for Civil Servants 2012

3. Singapore Pledge for Govt Scholars 2012

‎4. Singapore Pledge for Sports Fans 2012

5. ‎Singapore Pledge for Govt Ministers 2012

6. Singapore Pledge for the Social Gambler 2012

7. Singapore Pledge for the Child-less 2012 

8. Singapore Pledge for School Children 2012

9. Singapore Pledge for Taxi Drivers 2012

10. Singapore Pledge for Maid Employers 2012

11. Singapore Pledge for Sg Sports Council 2012

12. Singapore Pledge for MOM 2012

1) Singapore Pledge for Foodies 2012

We the citizens of Singapore (burp!)

Pledge ourselves as one always-hungry people

Regardless of got hum/no hum; got chilli/no chilli

To order up a delicious storm

Based on what the old hawker uncle/aunty can dish up

So as to achieve lau nuah happiness, tummy-rubbing satisfaction, and

High BMI-index for our nation. (burp!)

2) Singapore Pledge for Civil Servants 2012 

We the civil servants of Singapore

Pledge ourselves as one well-behaved people

Regardless if the girl was young or 18

Slim, got big boobs or not

Based on shape, size or lies

So as not to be conned into thinking

it's congress for the nation

3) Singapore Pledge for Govt Scholars 2012

We the scholars of Singapore

Pledge ourselves as one anti-lewd lot

To stop touching or groping

kids of various age and nudity

Based on need to satisfy

Some paedophilic urge or fantasy

that again embarrass the nation

‎4) Singapore Pledge for Sports Fans 2012

We the sports fans of Singapore

Pledge ourselves as one united people

Regardless of EPL club or telecom operator

To not continue be held ransom to ridiculous rates

Based on forever expanding TV rights monies

So as to enjoy a simple football match without

Starving half the people of the nation

5) ‎Singapore Pledge for Govt Ministers 2012

We the ministers of Singapore

Pledge not to throw foreign talent in yr face

Regardless of GDP growth, quarterly earnings or our bonus

To build a more inclusive society

Based on the over-40s, over-50s, and over-60s

So as to overcome myopia, disdain, distrust and

ignorance of the non-elites in our nation

6) Singapore Pledge for the Social Gambler 2012

We the social gamblers of Singapore

Pledge to continue our support for Singapore Pools

Regardless of fixed income, food-price rise or inflation 

To continue to play 4-D, Toto or visit the casino

Based on feeling, accident car plate numbers

So as not to deny the Community Chest charities

the monies and their duty to our nation

7) Singapore Pledge for the Child-less 2012 

We the child-less of Singapore

Pledge to pull down our pants a little more

Regardless of project deadlines or aged in the room

To build up lust and sordid passion

Based on mutual stimulation

So as to achieve titillation, orgasm and

more babies for our nation

8) Singapore Pledge for School Children 2012

We the school children of Singapore

Pledge ourselves a tuition-free existence

Regardless of grades, kiasu parents or other kaypohs

To build a stress-free, memorable childhood

Based on marbles, spider-catching and kite-flying

So as to achieve a less exam-smart mindset and

a better street-smart mentality for our nation

9) Singapore Pledge for Taxi Drivers 2012

We the taxi-drivers of Singapore

Pledge ourselves as one less confusing lot

Regardless of peak hours, ERP, public holidays

To charge just one freaking fare

Based on destination, not surcharge bingeing

So as to achieve a pleasant, math-less and

cuss-less ride for all in the nation

10) Singapore Pledge for Maid Employers 2012 

We the maid employers of Singapore

Pledge to treat them as we would our daughters

Regardless of laziness, cluelessness and personal hygiene

To not make them clean windows, climb high places

Based on some anal need for clean windows

So people will not think us heartless, cruel and  

basically kiasi of a nation

11) Singapore Pledge for Sg Sports Council

We the lau-jiao of the SSC

Pledge ourselves to not use any more FTs

Regardless if our kids are getting fat, out-of-shape and iPad-totting

To build a sporting nation of incomparable records

Based on hot-dog eating, fishball swallowing and mass displays

So as to achieve pride as citizens, born and bred and

raised on recycled toilet waters of the nation

12) Singapore Pledge for MOM 2012

We the people at MOM Singapore

Pledge ourselves to celebrate our moms

Regardless of grad, A-level or O

To build a more mamographic society

Based on Manpower AND Womanpower

So as to achieve equality, parity and

sorority for our sistas across the nation

Forum Letter 1: Let Children Play

The full letter is here:

Dear Editor,

I welcome the Prime Minister's National Day Rally reminder that children be allowed to play and enjoy their childhood. We should rightly insulate our kids from the kind of "hot-housing" that happens in other industrialised cities like Japan and Korea that can only lead to more stress, student-suicides, bullying, and tension within the family.

Instead of spending our energies in getting kids prepped excessively for academic performance, we should instead use our time and resources to ensure that they develop in other areas. Character for one, group dynamics is another. Decency even, so that in future we remain a gracious, big-hearted and tolerant people as our Prime Minister so exhorted.

For instance, I like what the NTUC My First Skool is teaching our kindergarten kids now. It has something to do with the use of unkind words. What results are kids who understand that they can hurt others with careless speech. In a world dominated by new social media, I find this teaching to be extremely valuable. More than that, it plays a huge role in mitigating one potent act of bullying in school. I just hope primary schools reinforce this kind of training. A national consensus is indeed needed and the setting up of a stat-board is a necessary first step.

Besides unkind words, kids can also learn basic words in other languages. This will help cement our tradition of inter-racial harmony and interlocution. Manners can also be taught, like how kids should be refrained from using social media 24/7, to learn to make conversation, lest it becomes a lost art. We all see the signs of it happening in our teenagers but we are really not hapless in doing something about it. We can start with the next generation, our preschoolers. It's not a forgone conclusion. Pre-schools/primary schools can reinforce what we parents dearly want back - a time when conversations with our kids was itself an act of discovery and wonderment.

With more time to explore, parents can also transfer emphasis to develop their kid's blind spots. Every kid has one, whether it is their inability to do math, draw, speak in front of an audience, analyse, etc. Rather than willy-nilly follow The Joneses, parents can reaffirm, recalibrate and refresh how they are buying enrichment courses for their children. Course centres can then better participate in helping a child develop, not just push out content that's only geared towards academic excellence. It's more a mindset change than anything else. But an important one. And it is one that will truly help a child grow, improve, and excel.

TC Lai