x 0

http://video.xin.msn.com/watch/video/imf-chief-charged-with-sex-assault-rape-attempt/yql0yee3

IMF chief charged with sex assault, rape attempt

IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, widely expected to run for the French presidency in 2012, was charged Sunday with the sexual assault and attempted rape of a New York hotel chambermaid, police said. The charges included " criminal sexual act, unlawful imprisonment, attempted rape" and " assaulting a 32-year-old girl in a hotel room" . Duration: 02:14

x 0

tＯ mＯ r r O w ?

ruanlai ( Date: 16-May-2011 09:01) Posted:

Two Mentors Step Down

IMF Chief Arrested

Japan Disaster

US Dollar Raise

Oil Drop

Gold Drop

STI going to crash down soon.

x 0

子曰：「吾十有五而志于学，三十而立， 四十而不惑 ，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，

x 0

子曰：「吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，

三十而立：三十岁时，人当自立，这个立，原意是立身的意思，所谓立身，就是丈夫有栖身之所，有所业。而不是立志的意思！

四十不惑：人到了四十岁，应该业有所成，不会因为无业尔所困惑，并对人生或者事业有一定的把握和理解。

五十天命：孔子认为，人到了五十，人生之中的机运已经了解清楚，知道了生命的真谛。。

六十知耳顺：人到了六十岁，在孔子看来 ,耳顺之年应该是不远游 ,万事由之的时候 ,因此，不会因为很多尘事纷扰不休而觉得心有所役。同时，学就知名 “ 所从知天命至耳顺，学就知明，成圣之验也。未五十、六十之时，未能知天命、至耳顺也，则谓之 “且 ”矣。 ”

七十随心所欲：经历知命。耳顺后，学业和心性到了很高的境界，或者说到了成圣德地步，自然随心所欲。
孔子所说的话，其实是从学业和个人修养的角度上来说的，今人赋予它很多其他的意义！也算是发扬光大了！

x 0

2 0 1 1

不惑世代

x 0

By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 15/05/2011

SPP’s Chiam See Tong says surprised at MM Lee, SM Goh stepping down

Chiam See Tong, SPP

SINGAPORE : Singapore People’s Party (SPP) chief Chiam See Tong said he was surprised that both Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong are retiring from the Cabinet.

Mr Chiam was speaking to reporters at a gathering for volunteers at Bishan Park on Sunday afternoon.

On reaching out to Singaporeans, SPP’s Second Assistant Secretary—General Benjamin Pwee said the party will set up an online portal to do so.

Speaking at an informal breakfast with residents at a coffeeshop in Bishan on Sunday morning, Mr Pwee said the online strategy can go beyond Facebook, to Twitter and even web chats.

Mr Pwee said Bishan—Toa Payoh residents have been offering to host informal meetings in their homes for party leaders, like Mr Chiam.

On its proposed community foundation, Mr Pwee said the fund will target people who do not have access to available assistance programmes, like small business owners on the brink of bankruptcy, and single mothers.

Mr Pwee added that a likely name for it is the Singapore People’s Community Foundation.

However, he said the final decision will be made by the taskforce in charge of setting up the foundation, which will be an independent entity separate from the party.

— CNA /ls

x 0

By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 15/05/2011

MM Lee, SM Goh’s stepping down signals time for new generation

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE : Political watchers and MPs said the decision by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to step down from the Cabinet, marks the passing of an era, a time for a new generation to take charge.

They said the Prime Minister’s key task is to assemble a new team and show a new generation of Singaporeans that the government is listening to them.

As MPs, both MM Lee and SM Goh will continue to wield some influence, but their retirement from the Cabinet is a clear sign that it is PM Lee Hsien Loong who is firmly in charge and a new generation has to lead change.

Zulkifli Baharudin, a political observer and former Nominated MP said: " If there was any doubt in the past that Prime Minister Lee is not completely independent because of the presence of MM Lee and SM Goh in the Cabinet, I think going forward, there should be no such doubt."

" In terms of executive functions, of seeing through (policies), it’s quite clear that PM and some of the younger ministers will take a (bigger) role and responsibility going forward."

Some have speculated that the timing of the announcement was linked to the ruling party’s performance in the General Election where it secured 60.1 per cent of votes.

But not all agree.

Mdm Halimah Yacob, MP for Jurong GRC said:" The signalling is important. This is not an abrupt movement of our two very senior leaders. It has been over a number of years already. MM himself has said many times that he was not in control.

" But then it shows also a Prime Minister who’s very confident, a Prime Minister who wants to have his own stamp on the way he steers his Cabinet and on the way he steers the direction of Singapore."

MPs said the election revealed the extent to which Singapore society has changed.

Indranee Rajah, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC said: " It’s not a case of, oh, we’ve got 60.1 percent which is lower than before, and therefore we step down. It is not it at all.

" It’s more a question of, what does the 60.1 per cent represent? What does it mean for us as a country, and in order for us to progress as a country, how do we let that happen?

" When you have a population that thinks independently and critically, then the question is, what do you do to be able to hold their trust, to be able to hold their confidence? That is PM’s big challenge."

Mr Zulkifli said it is important for the party to communicate that it is listening to Singaporeans but not become populist.

He said: " The PAP is in a reflective mood. I think this reflection is important at this point in time. A very spontaneous reaction, while it may win popular support of the critics for a short time, may not be the wisest thing to do. I think we must have clear reflection, clear understanding of what’s happening in our society, but it does not mean that you respond to the popular vote."

Political observers are now keenly watching how Prime Minister Lee will form his Cabinet, as it will signal the kind of leadership that will take Singapore into the next five years.

Most expect that there will still be a mix of old and new faces, as this has been a strength of Singapore’s Cabinet, but they said there will be a greater emphasis on qualities such as empathy, as well as an ability to listen and communicate.

Other PAP MPs said it may be easier for new MPs to speak up against government policies they disagree with, which may have been implemented under Mr Lee and Mr Goh’s leadership.

" At times as a rookie, we may not be so sensitive of such things. We do get reminded by senior Members of Parliament (MPs) or ministers to say, well I suggest you don’t pursue this further, because you will get nowhere," said Baey Yam Keng, MP for Tampines GRC.

They acknowledge that Mr Lee and Mr Goh will remain a valuable resource in Parliament for other MPs to tap on for advice.

— CNA /ls

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NO MONEY LIKE YOU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDb3VVp7w20

x 0

By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 14/05/2011

Decision by MM, SM to step down a " major event" , says PM Lee

Lee Hsien Loong

SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said the decision by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to step down from the Cabinet is a " major event" for Singapore.

Speaking after a post—election victory parade on Saturday, Mr Lee said he has not yet decided whether to accept their decision, but will likely give his answer by Monday.

He said the move was initiated by both leaders, but he had already known about their intention.

He added that his decision will also affect his new Cabinet line—up.

PM Lee said: " It is a major event for Singapore for two major figures like MM and SM to leave the government. It shows that they are thinking of Singapore and for the future of Singapore.

" The basic consideration is what is the best approach for forming a team which would be most effective in solving problems and establishing rapport and trust with the people going forward for the next five years."

— CNA/ms

x 0

x 0

2011

BRAND NEW CABINET

FULL OF

SWEET YOUNG THINGS [SYTs]

pharoah88 ( Date: 14-May-2011 23:24) Posted:

DOES thIs MEAN ? ? ? ?

ALL DPMs ? ? ? ?

and MINISTERS ? ? ? ?

AGED ABOVE 55 YEARS ? ? ? ?

WILL S T E P dOwn ? ? ? ?

pharoah88 ( Date: 14-May-2011 23:09) Posted:

Mr Lee said he is stepping down to ensure that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has a clean slate of younger leaders in Cabinet.

— CNA/ms

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Time to end the silence
An update will shed light on the fate of Changi Motorsports Hub
LEONARD THOMAS

leonard@mediacorp.com.sg
Today, workmen are busy on the Kallang site, dotted all over the 35 hectares, working hard, mindful they have to meet the deadline and bring the Sports Hub to life, by April, 2014.
It is an entirely different picture inthe east, off Changi Coast Rd, where an eerie silence hangs over the 41-hectare site of the Changi Motorsports Hub.
Surely it is time the country knows exactly where the whole project is at.
Scheduled to be operational by the end of the year, I would think there is no chance of meeting the deadline, after construction company CSC Holdings stopped piling work in mid-January.
SG Changi, the company that won the tender to build and run Singapore’s first permanent motorsports track, are in financial difficulties and only paid S$5 million of the S$10 million promised to CSC Holdings as advance payment on the S$50-million contract.
The setback followed hot on the heels of the news that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) had launched an investigation into possible irregularities in the tender for the S$380 million motorsports facility.
Potential investors were scared off and, so far, there has been little news from SG Changi on any progress made on the project.
The Singapore Sports Council (SSC), who launched the tender in 2009 and subsequently awarded it to SG Changi in March 2010, have also been silent.
All the while, the clock ticks down to the operational date at the end of the year, with the first event at the track scheduled in April 2012.

Launched last year, the probe by the CPIB may still be ongoing, but it has not stopped SG Changi chairman Morahashi Fuminori and general manager Moto Sakuma from continuing their search for potential investors.

x 0

DOES thIs MEAN ? ? ? ?

ALL DPMs ? ? ? ?

and MINISTERS ? ? ? ?

AGED ABOVE 55 YEARS ? ? ? ?

WILL S T E P dOwn ? ? ? ?

pharoah88 ( Date: 14-May-2011 23:09) Posted:

Mr Lee said he is stepping down to ensure that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has a clean slate of younger leaders in Cabinet.

— CNA/ms

pharoah88 ( Date: 14-May-2011 22:20) Posted:

By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 14/05/2011

SM Goh, MM Lee to leave Cabinet

Mr Goh Chok Tong (file picture)

SINGAPORE : Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Saturday said they have decided to leave the Cabinet for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his team to have a fresh clean slate.

In a joint statement, they said: " We have studied the new political situation and thought how it can affect the future. We have made our contributions to the development of Singapore. The time has come for a younger generation to carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation.

" The Prime Minister and his team of younger leaders should have a fresh clean slate. A younger generation, besides having a non—corrupt and meritocratic government and a high standard of living, wants to be more engaged in the decisions which affect them.

" After a watershed General Election, we have decided to leave the Cabinet and have a completely younger team of ministers to connect to and engage with this young generation in shaping the future of our Singapore.

" But the younger team must always have in mind the interests of the older generation. This generation who has contributed to Singapore must be well—looked after."

Mr Goh said he will now have more time to devote to his Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

He said this in a post on his constituency Facebook page, MParader, on Saturday, after the press statement was issued to say that he and MM Lee are retiring from the Cabinet.

Mr Goh said PM Lee can then refresh his Cabinet to forge a new Singapore consensus by rethinking policies and reshaping Singapore with fresh ideas.

He said Team Marine Parade will build a consensus on creating their 4G Home — which stands for a great home, as well as a gracious, generous and environmentally—conscious people.

In response to comments on his thread, Mr Goh said he is out of government but remains as MP for Marine Parade GRC.

" (I) will have more time to spend with residents, something I have always enjoyed doing," he said.

Mr Goh, who turns 70 on May 20, entered politics in 1976 at the age of 35, and was elected MP for Marine Parade.

He left his job in Neptune Orient Lines and in 1977, was appointed Senior Minister of State for Finance, in what was the start of a long political career.

He held various portfolios, including important ones such as Trade and Industry, Health and Defence.

Mr Goh was sworn in as Prime Minister on 28 November 1990, after then—Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stepped down to pave the way for leadership succession.

He was the consensus choice of his Cabinet colleagues.

Mr Goh stepped down as Prime Minister on 12 August 2004 to pave the way for leadership self—renewal.

The topic of self—renewal was one he often spoke about.

Mr Goh believed that preparing the fourth generation leadership team was key strategy to secure Singapore’s future, and he said that the current leadership transition is even more crucial than previous ones.

He said: " We need to have the best crew we can get, the competencies, the strategies, the unity, and the will to overcome crises. How successful we will be depends on how we respond to challenges and how we seize opportunities. If we adopt a passive approach, we will be like a man lost in the wilderness without a compass — we will end up walking in circles, going nowhere."

Mr Goh has been Senior Minister in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Cabinet since he stepped down.

In that role, he engaged the leaders of the Middle East and India to expand Singapore’s ties with both areas.

Minister Mentor was a term coined specially for Mr Lee in 2004, a description which reflects his role in office, and a nod to his wealth of experience.

Mr Lee’s role in shaping modern Singapore started from pre—Independence in the 50s and has continued till today.

He took a tough stand on many policies, from land acquisition for development to opening the doors to foreign talent.

Having seen for himself how racial tensions can break a society, Mr Lee dedicated himself to building a cohesive nation.

In 1988, the Parliamentary Elections Act was amended to introduce Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs).

Mr Lee has always said the GRC system is to guarantee minority representation in Parliament. At least one minority candidate must be part of the team contesting a GRC.

Leadership renewal has always been a key priority for Mr Lee, who stepped down as Prime Minister in 1990.

At a National Day dinner for his constituency, he said the country’s leadership renewal process is very much like the systematic way the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) renews its ranks.

Mr Lee said: " Every year, the SAF improves on what it has done from the last year. Every year, a new team takes over and we have a regular succession of capable officers taking over, and that is the way Singapore has been able to maintain itself — regular renewal of the leadership, with younger people taking over these decisive roles."

His decision to step down is perhaps a sign of the confidence in the country’s leadership renewal process.

In Saturday’s statement, Mr Lee said he is stepping down to ensure that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has a clean slate of younger leaders in Cabinet.

— CNA/ms

x 0

Mr Lee said he is stepping down to ensure that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has a clean slate of younger leaders in Cabinet.

— CNA/ms

pharoah88 ( Date: 14-May-2011 22:20) Posted:

By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 14/05/2011

SM Goh, MM Lee to leave Cabinet

Mr Goh Chok Tong (file picture)

SINGAPORE : Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Saturday said they have decided to leave the Cabinet for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his team to have a fresh clean slate.

In a joint statement, they said: " We have studied the new political situation and thought how it can affect the future. We have made our contributions to the development of Singapore. The time has come for a younger generation to carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation.

" The Prime Minister and his team of younger leaders should have a fresh clean slate. A younger generation, besides having a non—corrupt and meritocratic government and a high standard of living, wants to be more engaged in the decisions which affect them.

" After a watershed General Election, we have decided to leave the Cabinet and have a completely younger team of ministers to connect to and engage with this young generation in shaping the future of our Singapore.

" But the younger team must always have in mind the interests of the older generation. This generation who has contributed to Singapore must be well—looked after."

Mr Goh said he will now have more time to devote to his Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

He said this in a post on his constituency Facebook page, MParader, on Saturday, after the press statement was issued to say that he and MM Lee are retiring from the Cabinet.

Mr Goh said PM Lee can then refresh his Cabinet to forge a new Singapore consensus by rethinking policies and reshaping Singapore with fresh ideas.

He said Team Marine Parade will build a consensus on creating their 4G Home — which stands for a great home, as well as a gracious, generous and environmentally—conscious people.

In response to comments on his thread, Mr Goh said he is out of government but remains as MP for Marine Parade GRC.

" (I) will have more time to spend with residents, something I have always enjoyed doing," he said.

Mr Goh, who turns 70 on May 20, entered politics in 1976 at the age of 35, and was elected MP for Marine Parade.

He left his job in Neptune Orient Lines and in 1977, was appointed Senior Minister of State for Finance, in what was the start of a long political career.

He held various portfolios, including important ones such as Trade and Industry, Health and Defence.

Mr Goh was sworn in as Prime Minister on 28 November 1990, after then—Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stepped down to pave the way for leadership succession.

He was the consensus choice of his Cabinet colleagues.

Mr Goh stepped down as Prime Minister on 12 August 2004 to pave the way for leadership self—renewal.

The topic of self—renewal was one he often spoke about.

Mr Goh believed that preparing the fourth generation leadership team was key strategy to secure Singapore’s future, and he said that the current leadership transition is even more crucial than previous ones.

He said: " We need to have the best crew we can get, the competencies, the strategies, the unity, and the will to overcome crises. How successful we will be depends on how we respond to challenges and how we seize opportunities. If we adopt a passive approach, we will be like a man lost in the wilderness without a compass — we will end up walking in circles, going nowhere."

Mr Goh has been Senior Minister in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Cabinet since he stepped down.

In that role, he engaged the leaders of the Middle East and India to expand Singapore’s ties with both areas.

Minister Mentor was a term coined specially for Mr Lee in 2004, a description which reflects his role in office, and a nod to his wealth of experience.

Mr Lee’s role in shaping modern Singapore started from pre—Independence in the 50s and has continued till today.

He took a tough stand on many policies, from land acquisition for development to opening the doors to foreign talent.

Having seen for himself how racial tensions can break a society, Mr Lee dedicated himself to building a cohesive nation.

In 1988, the Parliamentary Elections Act was amended to introduce Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs).

Mr Lee has always said the GRC system is to guarantee minority representation in Parliament. At least one minority candidate must be part of the team contesting a GRC.

Leadership renewal has always been a key priority for Mr Lee, who stepped down as Prime Minister in 1990.

At a National Day dinner for his constituency, he said the country’s leadership renewal process is very much like the systematic way the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) renews its ranks.

Mr Lee said: " Every year, the SAF improves on what it has done from the last year. Every year, a new team takes over and we have a regular succession of capable officers taking over, and that is the way Singapore has been able to maintain itself — regular renewal of the leadership, with younger people taking over these decisive roles."

His decision to step down is perhaps a sign of the confidence in the country’s leadership renewal process.

In Saturday’s statement, Mr Lee said he is stepping down to ensure that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has a clean slate of younger leaders in Cabinet.

— CNA/ms

x 0

W H E N

BOSS dOes nOt want

tO HEAR THINGS

That they DON'T WANT tO HEAR ? ? ? ?

W H E N

they are ALL

YES MEN

YES WOMEN

pharoah88 ( Date: 14-May-2011 22:55) Posted:

When grassroots leaders may not

provide most accurate feedback

Ong Dai Lin

dailin@mediacorp.com.sg

This is because some grassroots leaders may not give accurate feedback and only highlight the positives, said several People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs MediaCorp spoke to.

Their comments come after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Lim Hwee Hwa said on Wednesday that the PAP Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team was surprised that the resentment towards the Government was so deep.SINGAPORE — Members of Parliament (MPs) should not just depend on grassroots leaders to tell them about ground sentiment towards the Government.

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Johor’s s$24.8b refining, petrochem complex

KUALA LUMPUR

The 300,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in Johor is expected to be commissioned by end-2016 and will take Malaysia’s oil refining capacity to 935,300 bpd, coming at a time of growing production capacity from India, China and South Korea.

“This commitment to an ambitious expansion in its downstream production capacity assuredly signifies the depth of PETRONAS’ ambitions to capture the opportunities Asia’s dynamic energy and chemical markets are expected to provide,” Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said at the project’s launch on Friday.

PETRONAS chief executive Shamsul Azhar Abbas said the complex, to be named the Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (RAPID), would meet an expected surge in demand for speciality chemicals in Asia, the main market for the products, while complementing Singapore’s energy business.– State-run oil company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) will build a US$20-billion (S$24.8-billion) integrated refinery and petrochemical complex, Malaysia’s largest single investment, to meet Asian demand for speciality chemicals, but some analysts question the scale of the project in a highly competitive market.

x 0

A Singapore-based carrier in the works for Qantas?

x 0

When grassroots leaders may not

provide most accurate feedback

Ong Dai Lin

dailin@mediacorp.com.sg

This is because some grassroots leaders may not give accurate feedback and only highlight the positives, said several People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs MediaCorp spoke to.

Their comments come after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Lim Hwee Hwa said on Wednesday that the PAP Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team was surprised that the resentment towards the Government was so deep.SINGAPORE — Members of Parliament (MPs) should not just depend on grassroots leaders to tell them about ground sentiment towards the Government.

x 0

Ministers’ pensions: How they’re paid

SINGAPORE

But to qualify for the maximum pension, he must have served as an office holder for 18 years, said Mr Tan Kee Yong, secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in a letter to the media yesterday.

Also, Members of Parliament (MPs) elected after January 1995 are not eligible for pension.

Mr Tan’s clarification on the pension issue for political office holders and MPs came in the wake of the May 7 General Election, which has seen several veteran ministers and MPs retiring before the hustings started and Cabinet ministers, Mr George Yeo and Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, due to leave office after losing the electoral contest in Aljunied GRC.

The changing of guard has sparked discussion on ministers’ pensions, especially in cyberspace.

Mr Tan said ministers have to serve a minimum of eight years to qualify for a pension.

Noting that the various aspects of the pension issue are a matter of public record, Mr Tan said: “A minister’s pension is determined based not on his total monthly salary but only on the pensionable component of this salary at the point of retirement. This pensionable component has been frozen since 1994.”

To contain pension costs, he added, all salary increases since that year have been added to the non-pensionable component of a minister’s salary. “Thus over time the pensionable component has shrunk as a proportion of total monthly salary,” said Mr Tan.

A minister qualifies for the maximum pension of two-thirds of the pensionable component of his monthly salary only if he has served for 18 years.

“The annual components of salary, which account for a significant proportion of the annual salary, are also not pensionable,” said Mr Tan.

The Parliamentary Pensions Act also provides for an office-holder to receive a pension at the age of 55, should he qualify for one, while he continues to hold office.

“This provision is being reviewed,” said Mr Tan.— When a Cabinet minister retires, the maximum annual pension that he is entitled to would be about 10 per cent of his annual salary while he was in service.

x 0

天上星多月不明

地下人多心不平

ERIC TAN

should be

NCMP for this tIme ?