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~TALENT mIs~develOpment=*WEALTH mIs*dIstrIbUtIOn
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pharoah88
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19-Nov-2010 13:25
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Building a bigger toolbox Letter from Assoc Prof Maureen Neihart Head, Psychological Studies National Institute of Education I WAS encouraged to hear Minister of State (Home Affairs and Education) Masagos Zulkifli stressing the need for a more holistic approach to deal with antisocial youth activities (“Keeping youth on the straight and narrow”, Nov 17) and that the review underway by the Ministry of Home Affairs is aimed at providing a wider array of tools for dealing with delinquent youth. A bigger toolbox is precisely what we need. Since there are multiple pathways to antisocial behaviour and no single set of risk factors contributes, we will need to broaden our array of types of support and intervention to address this issue. Extensive research devoted there to understanding the nature of criminal behaviour and to evaluating the effectiveness of various intervention strategies tells us that youth who persistently break the rules and who repeatedly violate the norms of social behaviour do so, in part, because they have faulty thinking and delayed moral development. They make “thinking errors” that keep them performing poorly in school, blaming others for their problems, and pursuing pleasure above meaningful and productive activity. While punishment and tough laws are useful to deter some youth and keep the community safe, they will not be sufficient in themselves to change antisocial youth’s behaviour. We need more intervention tools. There is a considerable body of research, spanning at least three decades, about what is effective in changing antisocial behaviour. These studies tell us that effective change begins with understanding the “criminal logic” that drives such behaviour. In other words, delinquent youth think differently. Their moral reasoning permits them to feel justified in violating the rights of others. Effective intervention appreciates this unique thinking style and attempts to change it. Several curricula have been developed, tested and demonstrated to be effective in correcting the faulty thinking and arrested moral development in youth with anti-social tendencies. All include exercises that challenge thinking errors, practice social-problem-solving skills, and target moral reasoning. Using a group format and a highly-structured and sequenced series of activities, these programmes help young people to learn positive social behaviours and to make decisions about right and wrong from a higher level of moral judgment. Many of these curricula have been demonstrated to be effective in significantly decreasing rule-breaking behaviour among juvenile and adult offenders. As a result, they are widely used in institutional and community-based correctional programmes and in recent years have even been instituted in public school systems to effectively reduce rule-breaking behaviour. Whether or not similar programmes can be adapted for our culture and context here and whether they will be similarly effective remains to be seen. But the Ministry of Home Affairs is on the right track in its efforts to build us a bigger toolbox. |
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pharoah88
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19-Nov-2010 12:22
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pharoah88
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16-Nov-2010 14:32
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Singapore’s men’s relay swim team disqualified, again Low Lin Fhoong SINGAPORE But joy soon turned to despair, when the foursome were disqualified after a false start by Yeo. According to team manager and head coach Ang Peng Siong (picture), a video recording by the team’s bio-mechanist showed Yeo had not false started and the team duly lodged a protest. However, it was rejected by the jury as the 30-minute deadline for protests had been exceeded. #### SINGAPORE Seems fOrgOtten hOw tO mEEt DEADLINE ? ? ? ? #### Speaking to MediaCorp over the telephone from Guangzhou last night, Ang said: “That was an unfair call ... we had no access to the meet referee because of the medal ceremony. They were quite unreasonable but rules are rules and we have to respect the referee’s decision. “But I’m very proud of the swimmers for doing this record time and they have the potential to go much faster at future events.” Swimming powerhouses China stormed home in 7:07.68 to bag the gold, with Japan and South Korea finishing second and third in 7:10.39 and 7:24.14, respectively. The latest incident is yet another blow for Team Singapore’s swimmers, after the men’s 4x200m freestyle team of Teo Zhen Ren, Jeremy Kevin Mathews, Matthias Ng and Arren Quek were disqualified from the Commonwealth Games final in New Delhi last month after Ang submitted the team start list late as he was caught in the Indian capital’s notorious traffic jams. Nevertheless, coach Ang has been impressed with the 17-strong swimming team’s performance in Guangzhou so far. Swim queen Tao Li clocked a personal best of 28.91sec in the women’s 50m backstroke heats in the morning and finished sixth in the final with a time of 29.12. Four male swimmers — Yeo, Clement, Sheng Jun and Rainer Ng — also posted personal bests yesterday. — Touching home in fourth spot in 7min 29.70sec at Guangzhou’s Aoti Aquatics Centre last night, the men’s 4x200m freestyle quartet of Danny Yeo, Pang Sheng Jun, Joshua Lim and Clement Lim were jubilant after breaking the national record of 7:30.73 at the 2010 Asian Games. |
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pharoah88
Supreme |
16-Nov-2010 11:03
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As we talk, we mature Hence the onus on newspapers to present every side of an issue to the public Letter from Low Hong Quan I REFER to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s speech at Mr Goh and Prof Tan both emphasised the need for newspapers to stay relevant and retain sizeable readership in the face of emerging new media platforms. I agree with their views. In addition, I believe that the Government should attempt to facilitate the maturing of the collective understanding by encouraging greater press freedom. By this, I do not mean sensational coverage and irresponsible journalism, that presents citizens with a warped view of reality. Rather, I have in mind the ideal of citizens and journalists offering constructive criticism and responsible feedback on Government policies. Newspapers and other traditional media provide an important platform to educate readers. In a democracy like ours, public discourse should be based on the premise that citizens view one another as equals and propose reasonable terms of social cooperation. It is, therefore, imperative that newspapers report impartially without fear or favour so that readers have a “common, accurate set of facts and sound analysis to deliberate and base their decisions on”, as Mr Goh suggests. A variety of differing opinions and perspectives on divisive issues will allow readers to consider different and often opposing views and come to their own conclusions on controversial issues. Today’s 10th anniversary dinner last Wednesday and Assistant Professor Eugene K B Tan‘s commentary (“A greater role in shaping public discourse”, Nov 10).Senior Minister Goh reiterated last week that only a thinking population who cares about the future of Singapore can sustain our growth and prosperity. To help achieve this, the mainstream media must work as responsible and conducive conduits for people to voice what they think — not just concerns and complains but also stark views and untested new ideas. To remain relevant, this is one area in which newspapers cannot afford to lose ground. Read Ng Ya Ken’s views and more letters on the topic at todayonline.com/voices |
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pharoah88
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16-Nov-2010 09:58
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pharoah88
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15-Nov-2010 18:32
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A delicate balancing act Letter from Cao Yilun I REFER to the court case in which British author Alan Shadrake has been convicted of contempt of court for some passages in his book, Once A Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice In The Dock.The court case sparked off criticism from some sectors of the local and international online community. Personally, I choose to see this incident not as evidence of Singapore’s restrictions on freedom of speech and expression, but a signal of our Government’s commitment to the exercise of responsibility in upholding freedom of speech while protecting our social values. Proponents of political liberalism often support unfettered freedom of speech on the grounds that it serves to protect the individual’s right to seek and receive information, or even promote a commitment to truth and heightened political activism. The famous libertarian John Stuart Mill once argued that “there ought to exist the fullest liberty of professing and discussing, as a matter of ethical conviction, any doctrine, however immoral it may be considered”. However, if we were to push for more freedom of speech and expression, we also have to handle the real risk of having more biased opinions disguised as objective truths to baffle the ill-informed. More freedom of speech should only be offered when a society is better equipped to fend off its side-effects. Hence, how much free speech should be allowed is often a difficult balancing act which must take into account social realities and values. Singapore is a communitarian society, which places more emphasis on societal interests over personal rights, pragmatism over idealism. The recent verdict on Shadrake’s case supports this fact. Endorsing Lord Patrick Devlin’s views on the justification of legislation, the State reserves the right to pass judgment on matters — such as the integrity of our courts — which threaten social harmony. Responsibility in exercising of freedom of speech is hence warranted to allow individuals to exercise their liberty without disregarding the greater social values. The legal development in Shadrake’s case is a positive step towards liberalising the law of contempt of court in Singapore, with Justice Quentin Loh deciding that the test of contempt of court is not that of “inherent tendency”, but a test of “real risk”. However, until our communitarian value system shifts significantly and decidedly towards individualism, protecting social cohesion and values will perhaps remain the most important consideration in deciding how much freedom of speech and expression is to be accorded. Shadrake case sends signal about importance of acting responsibly in the public domain |
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pharoah88
Supreme |
13-Nov-2010 16:47
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Nov 13, 2010Another view'Give serious thought in the interest of an inclusive society where the income gap is not left entirely to market forces.' MR K. KESAVAPANY: 'Professor Tommy Koh has advanced several cogent reasons why Singapore should not dismiss the option of having a minimum wage ('Don't knock minimum wage yet'; Thursday). The Government should give serious thought to the introduction of a minimum wage in the interest of an inclusive society where the income gap is not left entirely to market forces.' |
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pharoah88
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13-Nov-2010 16:44
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Nov 13, 2010MINIMUM WAGE
Dilemma of a two-track economyPROFESSOR Tommy Koh has proposed that we have a rational discussion on the pros and cons of a minimum wage in Singapore ('Don't knock minimum wage yet'; Thursday). His arguments have largely been based on issues of social equity. I'd like to offer another view. The argument against a minimum wage, on the grounds that our labour market pricing mechanism should be determined solely by the market, does not hold water in Singapore. There is already state intervention in the pricing mechanism, whether overt or indirect, to achieve policy objectives. The levy on foreign workers is a direct mechanism; the National Wages Council's recommendations is an indirect example. Even adjustments to the Central Provident Fund during times of economic recession - to reduce labour costs to employers - are an intervention in the market. In fact, the Government has overtly used labour pricing to achieve macro-economic objectives, most notably in the 1980s, when wages were jacked up artificially to help propel the economy out of low-cost, low value-added industries and towards a knowledge-intensive economy. Singapore is arguably facing the same 'low-cost labour trap' again. We have a dichotomised economy - a low-cost, low-skills service sector ranging from hospitality and retail to the construction industry versus a high- skilled, knowledge-based economy dominated by life sciences, information technology and creative industries. The former is dominated by foreign workers and the Government's dilemma is in trying to reduce the foreign worker content as well as increasing the skills content, and in so doing, attracting more Singaporeans to this sector. One way to do so is to introduce a minimum wage. No doubt, critics can argue that this is using too broad an instrument to achieve specific policy goals which can be achieved by other means. There is also the not insignificant problem of how to determine what should be the minimum wage, and how to adjust it over time so that it does not end up distorting a free labour market in a major way. I am not convinced of the arguments for or against a minimum wage. But I agree with Prof Koh that a thinking society should thoughtfully debate these and other issues of long-term importance to our society. Ho Kwon Ping |
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pharoah88
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13-Nov-2010 16:38
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Nov 13, 2010Traditional ceremony tiring for kindergarten pupilsWE THANK Mrs Yap Wai Ling for her feedback on Thursday ('Graduation: No gown, scroll or photo op'). We recognise that kindergarten education plays a significant part in the start of a child's educational journey. Each child is special to us. Hence, each year, Pioneer PCF Branch commemorates our pupils' graduation milestone in three separate events. The first event is a photography session, where our pupils are dressed in the traditional kindergarten graduation gowns to have their photographs taken individually and then together as a group with their graduating class. The second is a graduation concert involving the graduating K2 pupils from all Pioneer PCF centres, to showcase their artistic talent before parents and guests. The third event is a class party ceremony in which pupils are each presented with their graduation certificates by their class teacher who has taught them through their kindergarten education. This presentation ceremony is followed by a celebration party where pupils celebrate their graduation with their classmates over food, games and treats. The five centres of Pioneer PCF Branch comprise over 1,160 pupils and each year, about 300 to 400 pupils graduate from these centres. Pioneer PCF Branch has previously considered the idea of presenting scrolls individually to each of our pupils at the graduation concert instead of at the class level. However, it would have taken up to 21/2 hours to complete the presentation ceremony alone. Such a presentation would exceed the four-hour period set aside for the concert performances put up by the graduating children and other preparations. We have decided against this idea as it would be too tiring for our young children. Cheah Chai Luan (Ms) Principal, Pioneer PCF |
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pharoah88
Supreme |
11-Nov-2010 08:39
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pharoah88
Supreme |
10-Nov-2010 11:36
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Break the silence on the last taboo — Salaries Matthew Lynn We are no longer embarrassed when talking about sex. Death, disease and depression are discussed openly.Uswitch.com found that 37 per cent of people were happy to tell family and friends what they earned, 20 per cent would discuss their bonuses and 23 per cent their debts. But, of course, that still means 63 per cent of people are not happy to discuss their finances.Glassdoor.com found that 17 per cent of people would not discuss their earnings with anyone at all. But of the 83 per cent that would, most would share that information with their spouse or partner.
A BETTER DEAL One, everyone would benefit.
We cannot really be sure if we are paid fairly unless we know what our colleagues are getting.
Our [UNethical ?] bosses [& UNethical H R ?] can easily hoodwink us because we do not have enough information.
If we all knew what everyone else was getting paid, we would find it easier to seal a better deal. In the short term, we might suffer some embarrassment if it turned out we’d negotiated only a fraction of what everyone else in the office was getting. In the medium term, we would come out ahead.
Two, since we have no idea what everyone else is earning, we tend to feel insecure about what we are making. We look around us and assume that others are earning much more. The chances are that we get a salary somewhere in the middle.
If we were more open, we would probably be pleasantly surprised and realise we are doing okay.
Our self-esteem would improve.
Three, it will make us more financially responsible. One of the big problems around the world right now is consumer debt. That is partly because we are so secretive about our finances.
We show off by spending lots of money. If it was normal to tell everyone how big your mortgage was, or how we had purchased that new car entirely on credit, we might feel a bit uneasy. We would compete on financial responsibility, as well as just consumption — and feel less tempted to run up unaffordable debts.
True, what we earn is personal information. It reveals much about us and our place in the world. But society is undoubtedly a better place for having swept away Victorian taboos on discussing sex, death, health and emotions.
We should do the same for money as well.
How much do I earn?
I will tell you — but only if you tell me yours first.
BLOOMBERG
The writer is a Bloomberg News columnist and the author of Bust, a forthcoming book on the Greek debt crisis. The opinions expressed are his own. And there is not a single bodily function that a comedian cannot make a joke about on television. But one taboo still remains. Most people are still reluctant to discuss what they earn, or how much money they have. We know precisely how much most chief executive officers earn. But our co-workers? Our neighbours? Most of us have no idea what they make, how much they owe on their house, or what kind of savings they have. In reality, we would all be better off if we revealed our finances. We would get a fairer deal, feel more secure and be less likely to run up crazy debts. If we are comfortable talking about sex or death with everyone, we should be able to talk about money. Regulations force senior managers to make their earnings public. We know that Lloyds Banking Group CEO Antonio Horta-Osorio will get an annual salary of £1.035 million ($2.14 million), as well as a bonus, because the bank said so in a statement when he was appointed last week. We know that Willie Walsh, the CEO of British Airways, just received a pay increase of £90,000 because the airline revealed that as part of the process of receiving shareholder approval for its merger with Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA. With a quick search, we can get the same details for just about any corporate executive. Increasingly, we know top public-sector salaries as well. Earlier this year, the United Kingdom published those of the highest-earning executives at government agencies. So we know that David Higgins, the man in charge of delivering the London 2012 Olympics, is being paid £394,999 a year. Scandinavia countries are not shy about it, either. In Norway, details of everyone’s earnings are published online by the tax authorities. But almost everywhere else, salaries are still cloaked in secrecy. A survey of 1,392 British adults published last we e k by the we b s i t e A US survey found that Americans were also reticent. A poll by Harris Interactive of 2,257 adults for the website A third would discuss their earnings with their best friend, only 15 per cent with a colleague at a similar level and just 5 per cent with an acquaintance. There is still huge resistance to revealing your financial situation to the world. The majority of us just would not do it. But we should all be completely open about what kind of money we make. Here is why. |
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pharoah88
Supreme |
10-Nov-2010 08:32
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pharoah88
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08-Nov-2010 09:01
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Too young to know? Young adults, older students should have been polled for more representative view
I REFER to the article “Most youth here are proud to be Singaporean: Survey” (Nov 3).
I am truly heartened by the results of the recent poll, which showed that the majority of the country’s youth are proud to be Singaporean and that many among them believe Singapore will be able to overcome any difficulties to survive as a country.
As a Singaporean, I am happy to know that our young citizens share my ideals and values.
While we take comfort in the results of these polls, we should also not ignore the concerns of the likes of Nanyang Technological University student Lim Zi Rui, who had asked Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at a forum if he was aware that many young people were losing their sense of ownership of Singapore.
Although the recent poll indicated that 95 per cent of youth are proud to be Singaporean, the students polled were in Primary 4 and 6, Secondary 2 and 4, and Year 2 of junior college.
Many of them have yet to experience the realities of working life and competitive pressures outside school.
The views and results emanating from the survey could, therefore, be lacking in acknowledgement of the complexities and nuances of the “real world”.
Perhaps, the polls could be expanded to cover university students as well as young working adults to truly capture the perceptions of Singapore’s youth and to ascertain if Mr Lim’s concerns are indeed valid.
If his concerns are true, then this may indicate a potential problem requiring Government deliberation and possibly intervention.
The poll should ideally be conducted in a relaxed environment where subjects have no pressure in leaning towards any “politically correct” answers.
This will ensure objectivity in the process and subsequent findings, which will serve to correctly inform the public policy process. |
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pharoah88
Supreme |
04-Nov-2010 15:35
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FOLLOWING the recent murder of Republic Polytechnic (RP) student Darren Ng, who was reportedly stabbed following a staring incident on Halloween, a Facebook group was started, named “Why students of Republic Polytechnic keep on dying?” (sic). Last I checked, there were 2,013 members, with the number growing quickly. A photo of Darren is currently being used as the profile photo of the page. But instead of words of comfort, some of the comments are downright repulsive. Shockingly, some people actually “like” such comments, rather than flagging them as inappropriate. In addition, this page has become a platform for (often anonymous) members of the public to defame the school. The Facebook group contains information such as the names of RP students who have died, as well as details on their cases. Can anything be done about this Facebook page? Instead of feeling sympathetic about the sad situation, netizens seem to be treating it as a joke. I hope the public will be sensitive to the feelings of the victim’s families, as well as that of the innocent students at RP. It is really disappointing to see some people’s reactions to the incident. I hope the Facebook page can be shut down immediately.
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pharoah88
Supreme |
04-Nov-2010 15:32
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Netizens, show some sensitivity
Can anything be done about this Facebook page?
Instead of feeling sympathetic about the sad situation, netizens seem to be treating it as a joke. |
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pharoah88
Supreme |
02-Nov-2010 18:50
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4:00pm 02 11 2010 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 02 11 2010 end_of_the_skype_highlighting LIPS READING |
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pharoah88
Supreme |
02-Nov-2010 18:24
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pharoah88
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02-Nov-2010 14:44
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SINGAPORE Mr Lim, who broached the subject last week during a mission to Finland, added: “We are pointing out to people that if we are still healthy, it’s good to have more money to spend. And if you can earn more money by working, why not?” Mr Lim, who is also the Minister-incharge of ageing issues, was speaking on the sidelines of the opening of an NTUC Eldercare day-care centre. He added that some companies have successfully worked out systems where older employees can continue to work but for shorter hours and reduced wages. Singaporeans could emulate the Finns in not thinking of stopping work too early, said Mr Lim. “What the Finns have done is a process of public consultation over time. You can retire early but you get less pension. But if you defer your retirement to 68, you get the highest quantum of pension. “Many Finns are attracted by the higher pensions because they know it is good to have more money to spend in their senior years and if you can still continue to work in the meantime, it is right thing to do,” Mr Lim said. In Singapore’s context, he added, “when we talk about retirement we are not talking about extension of retirement age, we are talking about re-employment.” In an interview with MediaCorp yesterday, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said Mr Lim’s suggestion was “not impossible”. Come 2012, the Government will introduce laws to raise the re-employment age from 62 to 65. Mr Gan said: “We have said we are going to raise it to 67 in the future. Beyond that we will see how the development goes. It is not impossible for us to go beyond 67 as your life span gets extended.” Turning to the job market, Mr Gan noted the tight labour market, with unemployment remaining low at 2.1 per cent. Said Mr Gan: “Many of our manufacturing industries, as they restructure, will move towards higher-end manufacturing and business activities and therefore for manufacturing, employment growth is likely to be slower as they are moving up the value chain. “But for the services sector, it is still expanding, particularly with the two integrated resorts, which have brought about many new service industry jobs in restaurants and hospitality.” Mr Gan believes the “positive” employment situation will continue in the first few months of next year — although “there are uncertainties globally, so we have to be mindful and watch developments worldwide”. — Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Lim Boon Heng, who had floated the idea of raising the retirement age here to 68, clarified yesterday that “we are not forcing people to work”.
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pharoah88
Supreme |
02-Nov-2010 14:38
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Healthy at 68? Why not work? S Ramesh and Sara Grosse rameshs@mediacorp.com.sg Manpower minister challenges opposition
Anticipating an opposition contest in his single-member constituency of Chua Chu Kang, Mr Gan Kim Yong urged his opponents to come up with programmes that are different and better than what the People’s Action Party has been offering.
The Manpower Minister asked yesterday:
“What are the programmes that you are going to offer, that will serve the residents better?”
Mr Gan said the opposition should not just deal with local issues but also offer an alternative agenda for the nation.
“More importantly, if they are interested in serving the people, they should not just wait for the elections,” Mr Gan said, adding that the opposition should be engaged with the ground all the time.
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pharoah88
Supreme |
02-Nov-2010 14:29
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An eye for an eye leaves all blind
Civility must prevail in the furore sparked by letters from SMU law students Letter from Nicholas Poon THE recent saga involving two letters from Singapore Management University (SMU) law students has generated much buzz.
There have been more than 80 comments in the T
While some comments are justified, many have been specifically aimed at tarnishing the reputation of individuals and both the SMU and the National University of Singapore.
There are those who have seized the opportunity to impersonate individuals from the respective schools and turn it into a broader SMU law-versus-NUS law mudslinging match.
This is both unfortunate and unnecessary and brings us back full circle to the point which was perhaps lost in the flurry of heated exchanges:
Is there such a dearth of jobs that reasonable individuals have to resort to name-calling and insults to vent their anger?
Every individual would want to have a job of his choice waiting for him but that is unrealistic.
In most industries, competitiveness and productivity is best maintained when there is a slight oversupply of labour.
If the supply of lawyers is always trailing demand, there is a propensity for prospective lawyers to become complacent and this will adversely affect the legal industry.
However, it was, and still is, impossible to put a precise figure on the number of lawyers needed to address the shortage.
Whether there remains a shortage now cannot be answered easily. Difficulty in obtaining a training contract is not conclusive of a shortage of jobs. Indeed, as some have rightly pointed out, employers look for a variety of factors during recruitment.
Employment is an important issue for most people and law students should not be an exception. That said, it is understandable that some members of the public, and within the legal fraternity, are outraged at the manner in which certain employment concerns have been voiced.
However, in moments of desperation, or anger, people are capable of doing and saying certain things, the consequences of which they only fully comprehend and regret in retrospect.
However, the freedom to voice displeasure at inappropriate comments should not amount to a licence to insult and cast condescending aspersions on individuals, as well as institutions.
Students of both the NUS and the SMU are competent in their own right and criticism, if any, should remain objective and neutral.
As students, we should respect not only our teachers and school but the broader institution of learning as a whole.
It is a shame, and even a disservice, to our education system and educators if we students are unable to grasp this point.
As Gandhi once said, “an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind”.
Perhaps the strong desire to outdo each other has blinded some of us to the obvious fact that justice, righteousness and civility can all go hand-in-hand. |
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