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pharoah88
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31-Aug-2010 14:46
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T Developers, while openly welcoming the measures, will surely be cursing under their breath. Also rumbling will be those holding property stocks which will take a little beating, especially initially. True, the measures come at a time when residential property prices, especially at the very high end, already appear to be softening. So some will feel the timing somewhat inappropriate, even a little late. Nonetheless, prices of private homes did rise 11 per cent in the first half, while the HDB Resale Price Index recorded a high of 4.1 per cent in the second quarter, after rising by 3 per cent per quarter since a year ago. With more than four fifths of the population in Housing Board flats, the question for many will be whether plans to ramp up supply are adequate to meetthe demand, especially from newly-weds. The HDB says “if demand remains strong”, it is prepared to launch up to 22,000 new flats next year. [#### "iF" mentalIty exists Only In medIOcracy ? ####] Why not go ahead to build these flats anyway, even if they are ahead of demand? Surely the HDB knows exactly how many people are on the waiting list and should not be caught by surprise, as has happened in recent years leading to the current high prices of resale flats. While raising the minimum occupation period (MOP) for non-subsidised flats from three to five years should help in dampening HDB prices, the board should reconsider the five-year MOP for first-time buyers too and increase that to 10 years, as it stood some years back. Exceptions could be made on a case by case basis, for those who need more space as their family unit increases, or those who find they can no longer afford the bigger units now. HDB flats are meant for long-term owner-occupation. Moreover they are considered subsidised (they are not sold at market prices, hence the high prices in the resale market) and therefore, occupiers must bear with stricter restrictions in trading their flats. However, the move to prevent HDB buyers from owning private property within the MOP period could be harsh on senior citizens who depend on rental income from such properties. [**** THE SOLUTION: nOrmalIse Bank depOsIt Interest rate tO 6% ****] Under the new rules, those who own private property must dispose of it within six months of buying a non-subsidised flat. Perhaps an exception could be made for senior citizens, at least for one private property. he slew of measures introduced by the Government yesterday appears aimed at the property market speculator and should provide some relief to the genuine homebuyer from sky-high prices.The writer is editor-at-large at Today. |
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pharoah88
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31-Aug-2010 14:31
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Raise MOP to 10
Conr ad raj Exceptions could be
made ... for those
who need more
space as their family
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pharoah88
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31-Aug-2010 14:27
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Youth share their thoughts on National Day Rally With much talk about the integration of foreigners and new immigrants into Singapore society, the National Day Rally on Sunday was like a “Maths lesson”, quipped project engineer Lu Qimin, 27, at a People’s Association Youth Movement focus group discussion last night. While the participating youth realised the merits of welcoming foreigners, they also pointed out instances where they felt shortchanged as citizens. “Sometimes when you want to integrate, you end up becoming more differentiated,” said Mr Lu. Other participants noted that at times it was the foreigners who did not make the effort to reach out to the locals. A few university students noted how different nationalities would stick together during lectures, but another participant pointed out that locals also tend to form cliques. The focus groups — made up of 140 students and young working adults — were chaired by Members of Parliament Mohamad Maliki Osman, Hri Kumar Nair and Michael Palmer. While the immigration issue was something all could identify with, housing was a greater concern for working adults. Most of the youth were unmarried, but felt that property prices were rising faster than what they could afford. But they welcomed the authorities’ moves to help first time buyers. Raising the minimum occupation period of resale flats bought without CPF housing grants to five years before it could be sold would lead to a drop in business for property agents like himself, noted a participant, but it would deter speculators and help “cool” the market. Neo Chai Chin |
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pharoah88
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31-Aug-2010 14:14
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Mr Lee Hsien Loong got down to that kind of a nitty gritty approach to tell Singaporeans that he understands the issues that are making them hot under the collar and what the Government is doing to soothe the public’s pain points. Switching from explaining to empathising to pleading, Mr Lee tackled the hot topic of immigration and foreign workers and the economic spin-offs and social spill-overs their numbers are bringing about in some depth and width. A newbie to Singapore must have wondered: With the country snapping out of an economic crisis so quickly and looking at a sparkling annual growth of 15 per cent and the historic hosting of a mega event like the Youth Olympic Games, why was the Prime Minister not in a mood to party? The simple answer is that the Singaporean is not in the mood to celebrate. He is concerned, sometimes even angry, about rising property prices, the uncharacteristic floods, the bus fare changes, the traffic jams and the jammed trains. And an accusing finger has been pointed at the way in which foreigners have been allowed in. Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, was in that sense fortunate. He knew his compact with the people was to deliver high growth. Despite great odds, he delivered. The Prime Minister who followed, Mr Goh Chok Tong, was fortunate, too. He rode on the economic reputation that Singapore had established; it grew by 6.4 per cent on average during his 14-year tenure. If you average out the growth for the last three years from 2008 to 2010, it will hit about 5 per cent. Moving forward, that figure might even be a stretch, said Singapore’s third Prime Minister in January. To make it more complex, growth is going to come in wild swings. Low growth one year, negative growth another year and high growth yet another year and Singaporeans used to a comfortable and easy ride now have to tighten their seat belts for not just a bumpy ride but a roller coaster one. Add to this the dramatic change to the social face of Singapore caused by the influx of foreign workers and immigrants and a demanding public, who said in an Institute of Policy Studies survey that they will show their unhappiness at the ballot box and not so much at dialogue sessions with the Government. This is the kind of Singapore that Mr Lee and his team are facing. A society in transformation and a country that is becoming more complex to govern. The announcement of the Population and Talent Division under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to manage Singapore’s immigration, talent and population policies has to be seen in this context. Singapore’s problems are becoming more complex by the day and a single ministry cannot handle them in a silo approach any more. A one-ministry solution to an issue in a complex place like Singapore can only cause more problems down the line. Take immigration. That was seen in a narrow context of adding the cream to the economic pie. The downsides of congestion, higher property prices and social divide were not factored in. That’s why the PMO has expanded in recent times with climate change, ageing, security co-ordination, research and development and now population and talent being added to the growing list of departments coming under the Prime Minister’s watch. What the Prime Minister is trying to do is to make sure that holistic solutions are found to problems that are cropping up. That will help for a while. What Singapore also needs is a game changer, an intangible one, that will redefine the country for the next 45 years. The Prime Minister tried to identify that by focusing on the Singapore Spirit, evoking the words and emotions of founding fathers S Rajaratnam and Dr Goh Keng Swee. Shared values and memories and a will to make things work and do things the right way... that’s how Mr Lee identified the ingredients. He has now got the onerous and unenviable task of moving Singapore in that direction. One of the enduring images that emerged from the Prime Minister’s speech to the nation on Sunday night was that of him flashing a map of Singapore on the big screen and pointing to where the rail transport choke points develop during peak hours.The writer is the director of the Asia Journalism Fellowship, a joint initiative of Temasek Foundation and NTU. |
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pharoah88
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31-Aug-2010 13:53
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A society in transformation, a complex country to govern P N Balji Switching from explaining to empathising to pleading, Mr Lee tackled the hot topic of immigration and foreign workers. |
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pharoah88
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31-Aug-2010 13:49
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Opposition reaction to Rally speech Alicia Wong alicia@mediacorp.com.sg SINGAPORE Mr Lee’s speech centred on the economy, education system, immigration policy and the Singapore spirit. Singapore Democratic Alliance secretary- general Desmond Lim, who spoke on behalf of the SDA Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Election Office, said it “applaud(ed)” Mr Lee for understanding “many issues of concern to Singaporeans”. But Mr Lim felt a “social welfare tax” was needed for PRs who leave Singapore after accumulating a certain amount of wealth. National Solidarity Party secretary-general Goh Meng Seng called for a tightening of the labour law so that foreign workers are not “exploited” to work 14-hour days even if they may be willing to. Mr Goh said this would impact the wage levels of Singaporeans. Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said in a statement that the “only concrete initiative” was the National Service Recognition Award of up to $9,000; however, he said the amount was insufficient. Instead, his party still believes that lower taxes for NSmen would be better. It also called for, among other suggestions, foreign students on scholarship here to do NS and for a shorter NS period. Singapore Democratic Party secretarygeneral Chee Soon Juan felt that an overly optimistic picture was painted on Sunday. Dr Chee cited Manpower Ministry data on the higher number of jobless in June compared to March. The number of long-term unemployed also increased between December and March. The Worker’s Party did not respond to email queries by press time. — Reduce National Service to one year, tax permanent residents who leave Singapore after gaining wealth and tighten labour laws. These were some suggestions made yesterday by Opposition parties in response to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally speech on Sunday. |
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pharoah88
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30-Aug-2010 17:14
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Doors open but citizens first Monetary award for NSmen among the measures Loh Chee Kong news editorcheekong@mediacorp.com.sg SINGAPORE — While explaining the need to keep the Republic’s doors open, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday went further — to reassure citizens they would always come first, sketch out new pathways for young Singaporeans to fulfil their potential, and rally citizens to discover what he defined as the “Singapore Spirit”. In his National Day Rally speech, Mr Lee promised them the influx of foreign workers will slow. He “empathised with” and understood Singaporeans’ worries about competition for jobs and houses, the crowding on public transport, and the “character of our society”. To address these concerns, he unveiled housing, transportation and education measures which could go some way to “maintain a Singaporean core in our society, stiffened by this Singapore spirit”. “We should give Singaporeans time to adjust and our society time to settle and integrate better the new arrivals,” said Mr Lee. Among the initiatives: A new National Service Recognition Award (NSRA) for National Servicemen (NSmen). Disbursed in tranches, the sum, totalling at least $9,000, will be credited into the Post Secondary Education and CPF accounts, and can be used to pay for an NSman’s education and housing. More details will be unveiled later by the Ministry of Defence. A new Population and Talent Division, overseen by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, will be set up in the Prime Minister’s Office to manage immigration, talent and population policies holistically, and ensure Singaporeans benefit as more foreigners pour in this year. Said Mr Lee: “With the booming economy, we will definitely need more foreign workers so that we can create more jobs.” Last month, he had noted that at least 100,000 foreigners could enter Singapore’s workforce this year. The eventual number, he said yesterday, could be fewer — “perhaps 80,000”. Mr Lee explained he had floated the 100,000 figure earlier to highlight the inevitable tradeoff: Higher growth to benefit Singaporeans “also means accepting more foreigners”. Pointing out that immigration and foreign talent are “difficult issues everywhere”, Mr Lee said: “They pose very real political and social problems. But if we can manage these ... then the benefits to us are substantial.” As Singapore becomes ever more cosmopolitan to stand out on the global stage, and a blistering economy this year calls for further foreign reinforcement of the workforce, anxious citizens have been trying to adjust.‘IMPORTANT TO STAY OPEN’ For Singapore to be an “outstanding city”, talent makes a “tremendous difference” — be it in fields as diverse as architecture or sports, said Mr Lee. The limited talent pool here meant the country needed to draw people from all over the world. |
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pharoah88
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30-Aug-2010 17:06
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More flats for sandwiched class Announcement on private property today Leong Wee Keat weekeat@mediacorp.com.sg SINGAPORE — The Government will also widen public housing choices for the “sandwiched group”, those who earn a monthly income of between $8,000 and $10,000. Yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that this group — which previously only qualified for the Housing and Development Board’s Executive Condominiums (ECs) — will soon be allowed to buy Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flats. They will be granted the same concessions as they previously enjoyed when buying an EC: They are eligible for a $30,000 housing grant and can arrange their own financing. With this relaxation, which answers a call by Members of Parliament, the Government will release more land for developers to build DBSS flats and ECs to ensure there is adequate supply to meet Singaporeans’ housing demands. HDB will also speed up the completion of new BTO flats from the current three to three-and-a-half years, said Mr Lee, who added that home ownership rules would be further tightened to stress that HDB flats “are primarily (for) owneroccupation”. Mr Lee noted there was “quite a number of private property owners who buy HDB re-sale flats and re-sell them” within one to two years. More details, as well as measures concerning the private property market, will be announced by the Ministry of National Development this morning. The Government has twice acted to cool the market — most recently in February — but prices are still rising and cash-over-valuation amounts remain high. Said Mr Lee: “Our purpose is to make sure that in the long term, Singaporeans can own their homes ... and it will be a gradually-appreciating asset which will grow as Singapore grows.” Some 22,000 Build-To Order (BTO) flats — over a third more than this year’s supply — will be pushed out next year. And this was not the only piece of pleasant news for flat seekers yesterday: |
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pharoah88
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30-Aug-2010 16:56
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‘Doing everything we can’ on MRT congestion
Loh Chee Kong SINGAPORE
“many” grouses about public transport congestion, especially
on the MRT trains, and it is “doing everything possible
to improve matters”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
From an upgraded signalling system which would see
trains running at shorter intervals on the North South Line
and East West Line, to additional trains on the North East
Line (NEL), the authorities are hoping to address the complaints,
said Mr Lee.
“Most of the time, (the MRT system) is working fine. The
peak hours are when the crowding takes place,” he noted,
singling out three persistent problem stretches: From Bukit
Gombak to Dover, from Toa Payoh to Novena, and from
Serangoon to Dhoby Ghaut.
Pointing out that the congestion on the North South
Line will ease further when the Circle Line is fully completed
next year, Mr Lee announced that from next year, SBS Transit
will run an extra train on the NEL during the morning rush
hour. Also, SBS Transit will increase its capacity by 50 per
cent by buying new trains over the next five or six years,
said Mr Lee.
Infrastructural works at the Jurong East MRT Station are
underway and will be completed by May next year.
Over the next decade, $60 billion will be spent on
doubling the rail network, including the addition of the
Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line.
But improvements would not be seen overnight, Mr Lee
said. The upgrading of the signalling system — which will
shorten intervals from two minutes to 100 seconds — will
take “some years” as the workers “only have three or four
hours” each night to work on it.
Urging Singaporeans to “be patient”, he noted that trains
in all cities “will always be packed during peak hours”.
“We can’t guarantee that every passenger can get onto
the first train everytime, or even that he can get onto the
second train everytime, but there will be trains every couple
Loh Chee Kong cheekong@mediacorp.com.sg SINGAPORE From an upgraded signalling system which would see trains running at shorter intervals on the North South Line and East West Line, to additional trains on the North East Line (NEL), the authorities are hoping to address the complaints, said Mr Lee. “Most of the time, (the MRT system) is working fine. The peak hours are when the crowding takes place,” he noted, singling out three persistent problem stretches: From Bukit Gombak to Dover, from Toa Payoh to Novena, and from Serangoon to Dhoby Ghaut. Pointing out that the congestion on the North South Line will ease further when the Circle Line is fully completed next year, Mr Lee announced that from next year, SBS Transit will run an extra train on the NEL during the morning rush hour. Also, SBS Transit will increase its capacity by 50 per cent by buying new trains over the next five or six years, said Mr Lee. Infrastructural works at the Jurong East MRT Station are underway and will be completed by May next year. Over the next decade, $60 billion will be spent on doubling the rail network, including the addition of the Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line. But improvements would not be seen overnight, Mr Lee said. The upgrading of the signalling system — which will shorten intervals from two minutes to 100 seconds — will take “some years” as the workers “only have three or four hours” each night to work on it. Urging Singaporeans to “be patient”, he noted that trains in all cities “will always be packed during peak hours”. “We can’t guarantee that every passenger can get onto the first train everytime, or even that he can get onto the second train everytime, but there will be trains every couple of minutes,” he said. — The Government has heard Singaporeans’ “many” grouses about public transport congestion, especially on the MRT trains, and it is “doing everything possible to improve matters”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said. |
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pharoah88
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30-Aug-2010 16:15
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Opening pathways, building peaks Zul Othman zul@mediacorp.com.sg SINGAPORE So several new initiatives are being introduced, covering primary to university levels, with a singular focus on creating more educational opportunities and different paths to fulfil potential. With greater options, it will cement the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) as a major educational hurdle to clear without it being “a do-or-die test that determines the whole future of a child”. For instance, since Normal (Technical) students often blossom in the Institute of Technical Education, an enhanced N(T) programme is being tested in Bedok Town, Shuqun and Si Ling secondary schools, with a view to apply the lessons learnt to other N(T) classes, Mr Lee revealed in his National Day Rally speech. — The hallmark of any good education system is to not just “stretch the brilliant ones but also help those less academically inclined, and all those in between”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday. |
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pharoah88
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30-Aug-2010 16:05
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Productivity, the key to a better life Leong Wee Keat weekeat@mediacorp.com.sg SINGAPORE While some may dismiss this as insignificant information, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong felt this "getai index" was an indicator “ that the economy has turned around and that the common people and small businesses have benefitted from this turnaround”. Thanking Singaporeans — unions, workers, employers and government officials — for a job well done in tackling the economic crisis last year, PM Lee also sought to temper expectations. Even though growth forecasts have been revised upwards to 13 to 15 per cent this year, PM Lee said that a “realistic target” in the future would be between 3 and 5 per cent. He also urged workers and employers to “please be careful with wage expectationsthe past three years — economic growth is also “not spectacular as what we thought”, averaging about 5 per cent a year.” — as compared to In all his three speeches last night, PM Lee stressed the need to raise productivity to keep the economy growing and allow Singaporeans to have a good standard of living. He also urged Singaporean workers to upgrade their knowledge and skills so that they become more valuable to their companies. “Low-skilled workers are under the most pressure. There are millions of workers in China and India. They are willing to accept very low wages — much less than us,” PM Lee said in his Malay speech. “If you want to earn more, you must train hard.” He cited the example of Mr Tong Shiang Wee, who joined the oil and gas industry 26 years ago. Despite having no school qualifications and starting from the lowest rung, Mr Tong’s attitude was “must try, no harm trying”, PM Lee said. The 47-year-old kept learning on the job and attended courses to upgrade himself. Today, he is a manufacturing specialist overseeing 70 technicians and four production supervisors. “That’s what job upgrading means,” PM Lee said. Employers play a key role too — they must find promising business opportunities and grow a competitive and profitable business. Raising productivity, however, will not be easy for small and medium Enterprises (SMEs), PM Lee acknowledged. They may have to turn to automation or merge with other SMEs in the face of growing competition. PM Lee assured SMEs that the Government has designed many schemes to help them upgrade equipment and improve their service quality. Last week, for example, Spring Singapore set aside nearly $30 million to help SMEs recruit fresh graduates and provide internships for undergraduates and polytechnic students, which Mr Lee hopes SMEs will take up. He cited food and beverage operator Mr Bean as an example of a SME which has transformed itself successfully. It went from a single stall 15 years ago to more than 50 branches today, employing more than 450 employees. It even has an outlet in Tokyo’s Shibuya shopping district. Turning to the public sector, PM Lee said it must “do the right thing” in seeking out efficiency gains even though it is harder to measure Government outcomes. He cited the Ministry of Defence’s use of automation to test NSmen’s individual physical fitness as an example. Instead of using stopwatches and pieces of paper to record scores, sensors are used to count the number of chin-ups and sit-ups done, while radio frequency identification tags automatically log participants’ times during the 2.4km run. As a result, only six physical fitness instructors are needed to conduct tests for 600 NSmen today. Before, 14 instructors were required to conduct tests for 300 NSmen. “No standing around and waiting (for NSmen). And that’s what all Government departments must learn to do,” said PM Lee. Productivity has to be the responsibility of all Singaporeans. “That is the way Singapore can stay ahead of the competition, our firms can do well and all of us can improve their lives,” he added. — Most of the songs belted out at this month’s Hungry Ghost Festival are the same as those from last year but the fees charged by getai performers have spiked. |
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pharoah88
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30-Aug-2010 15:53
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A tale of two Singapore firms and the oil spill in the United States
The Singapore economy may have shaken off the recession and is rebounding with a double-digit growth forecast but the country cannot expect such stellar growth in the long term. Last night, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted how firms should remain competitive by creating value, developing expertise and growing a profitable business. Citing the examples of Keppel and SembCorp Marine, PM Lee said companies must find promising business opportunities. Together, both Keppel and SembCorp Marine make 70 per cent of oil-rigs in the world. Recounting a chat he had with a Keppel executive during a recent visit to Houston, Texas, PM Lee said he asked the man if Singapore had built the oil rig that had exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing massive pollution. “He said: ‘No, but we built the rig from which they are mounting the rescue operation’,” said PM Lee. Both Keppel and SembCorp Marine pay good bonuses to workers — reported to be nine months last year — and several hundred million dollars in taxes to the Government every year, said PM Lee. “So, not bad for a country which has no oil,” he said, to laughter. SATISH CHENEY |
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pharoah88
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30-Aug-2010 14:54
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It’s a two-way street
Letter from Tan Jia Ler, Lynn ACCORDING to a report in It is true that in many fatal road accidents, motorcyclists and cyclists are often the victims because they are more vulnerable compared to motorists. This perceived “weakness” is also why motorcyclists and cyclists tend to garner more sympathy, as it is natural for people to empathise and side with the weaker group. Motorists then, inevitably, become the bullies. It is sometimes difficult to acknowledge that the more seriously wounded party could be the one at fault. In the ongoing debate about the rights of motorists, motorcyclists and cyclists, motorists are fighting a losing battle because of such preconceptions. While motorists should be more careful around motorcyclists and cyclists on the roads because they can be easily knocked down and sustain serious injuries, perhaps it is also fair that motorcyclists and cyclists be mindful of how they ride. We are all too familiar with dangerous riding habits of motorcyclists, such as weaving in and out of traffic and positioning themselves between the kerb and a turning vehicle. Also common are examples of cyclists ignoring red lights, double white lines and other traffic regulations, or those who switch from the roads to the pavements whenever it suits them. Worse still, when a motorist flouts traffic rules, he can be easily traced by his registration number. How do we go about tracking down errant cyclists without physically nabbing them? For us all to share the roads and coexist, it must be a two-way street and we must all do our part and act responsibly towards one another. Today (“Motorcyclist convicted of road rage wins appeal”, Aug 27), a French motorcyclist was recently spared a one-week jail sentence for a road rage incident against a driver. |
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pharoah88
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30-Aug-2010 14:33
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How the Internet is making us stupid Nicholas Carr Although the World Wide Web has been around for only 20 years, it is difficult to imagine life without it. But our dependence on the Internet has a dark side. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the Net, with its constant distractions and interruptions, is turning us into scattered and superficial thinkers.The Shallows: How the Internet Is Changing the Way We Think, Read and Remember. I was inspired to write the book after I realised that I was losing my own capacity for concentration and contemplation.
DI VIDED ATTENTION The common thread in these disabilities is the division of attention. The richness of our thoughts, our memories and even our personalities hinges on our ability to focus the mind and sustain concentration.
Only when we pay close attention to a new piece of information are we able to associate it “meaningfully and systematically with knowledge already well established in memory”, writes the Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Eric Kandel. Such associations are essential to mastering complex concepts and thinking critically.
When we’re constantly distracted and interrupted, as we tend to be when looking at the screens of our computers and mobile phones, our brains can’t forge the strong and expansive neural connections that give distinctiveness and depth to our thinking. Our thoughts become disjointed, our memories weak.
In an article in
Some indicated that certain computer tasks, like playing video games, increase the speed at which people can shift their focus among icons and other images on screens. Other studies, however, found that such rapid shifts in focus, even if performed adeptly, result in less rigorous and “more automatic” thinking.
In one experiment at a United States university, half a class of students was allowed to use Internet-connected laptops during a lecture, while the other had to keep their computers shut. Those who browsed the Web performed much worse on a subsequent test of how well they retained the lecture’s content.
Our growing use of screen-based media, Dr Greenfield said, has strengthened visual-spatial intelligence, which can strengthen the ability to do jobs that involve keeping track of lots of rapidly changing signals, like piloting a plane. But that has been accompanied by “new weaknesses in higher-order cognitive processes”, including “abstract vocabulary, mindfulness, reflection, inductive problem-solving, critical thinking, and imagination”. We’re becoming, in a word, shallower.
Studies of our behaviour online support this conclusion. German researchers found that Web browsers usually spend less than 10 seconds looking at a page. Even people doing academic research online tend to “bounce” rapidly between different documents, rarely reading more than a page or two, according to a University College London study.
Such mental juggling takes a big toll. In a recent experiment at Stanford University, researchers gave various cognitive tests to 49 people who do a lot of media multi-tasking and 52 people who multi-task much less frequently.
The heavy multi-taskers performed poorly on all the tests. They were more easily distracted, had less control over their attention, and were much less able to distinguish important information from trivia.
The researchers were surprised by the results. They expected the intensive multitaskers to have gained some mental advantages.
But that wasn’t the case. In fact, the multi-taskers weren’t even good at multitasking.
“Everything distracts them,” said Mr Clifford Nass, one of the researchers. BRAINS REMODELLED It would be one thing if the ill effects went away as soon as we turned off our computers and mobiles. But they don’t. By changing our habits of mind, each new technology strengthens certain neural pathways and weakens others.
The pioneering neuroscientist Michael Merzenich believes our brains are being “massively remodelled” by our ever-intensifying use of the Web and related media. In a conversation late last year, he said that he was profoundly worried about the cognitive consequences of the constant distractions and interruptions the Internet bombards us with.
The long-term effect on the quality of our intellectual lives, he said, could be “deadly”.
Not all distractions are bad. As most of us know, if we concentrate too intensively on a tough problem, we can get stuck in a mental rut. But if we let the problem sit unattended for a time, we often return to it with a fresh perspective and a burst of creativity.
Research by the Dutch psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis indicates that such breaks in our attention give our unconscious mind time to grapple with a problem, bringing to bear information and cognitive processes unavailable to conscious deliberation.
But Dr Dijksterhuis’ work also shows that our unconscious thought processes don’t engage with a problem until we’ve clearly and consciously defined the problem. If we don’t have a particular goal in mind, he writes, “unconscious thought does not occur”.
What we seem to be sacrificing in our surfing and searching is our capacity to engage in the quieter, attentive modes of thought that underpin contemplation, reflection and introspection. The Web never encourages us to slow down. It keeps us in a state of perpetual mental locomotion. The rise of social networks like Facebook and Twitter, which pump out streams of brief messages, has only exacerbated the problem.
There’s nothing wrong with absorbing information quickly and in bits and pieces.
We routinely run our eyes over books and magazines to get the gist of a piece of writing and decide whether it warrants more thorough reading. What’s disturbing is that skimming is becoming our dominant mode of thought.
Once a means to an end, a way to identify information for further study, it’s becoming an end in itself — our preferred method of both learning and analysis.
Dazzled by the Net’s treasures, we have been blind to the damage we may be doing to our intellectual lives and even our culture. The writer is the author of The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. This is an excerpt of a longer article. I’ve been studying this research for the past three years, in the course of writing my new book, Even when I was away from my computer, my mind seemed hungry for constant stimulation, for quick hits of information. I felt perpetually distracted. Could my loss of focus be a result of all the time I’ve spent online? In search of an answer to that question, I began to dig into the many psychological, behavioural and neurological studies that examine how the tools we use to think with — our information technologies — shape our habits of mind. The picture that emerges is troubling, at least to anyone who values the subtlety, rather than just the speed, of human thought. People who read text studded with links, the studies show, comprehend less than those who read words printed on pages. People who watch busy multimedia presentations remember less than those who take in information in a more sedate and focused manner. People who are continually distracted by emails, updates and other messages understand less than those who are able to concentrate. And people who juggle many tasks are often less creative and less productive than those who do one thing at a time. |
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pharoah88
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29-Aug-2010 14:55
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Aug 28, 2010Sex best taught at homeAS A former educator and a mother of two - a son and a daughter - I believe that sex education is best taught at home with the parents being the prime educators. Lessons on sexuality should begin when children are preschoolers, when curiosity about differences in anatomy is aroused. This early start can help prevent child molestation. I have always believed that since I brought my children into the world, it is my duty to teach and enlighten them about the human anatomy. And I did. In their growing years, I taught them about respect for one's body and that of the opposite sex. If parents teach their children the right things while they are young, they will never live to regret it. Julia Sng (Mrs) http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_571764.html |
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pharoah88
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29-Aug-2010 14:45
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Listen up and listen close
August 21, 2010 Saturday, 06:00 AM
Tan Hui Yee finds out what teens think about sex education
I DON’T particularly love children. I was an awkward child, a gawky teenager, and really quite happy to cross the threshold into adulthood when the time came. |
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pharoah88
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26-Aug-2010 14:36
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Aggressive gesture or an attempt to help? Letter from Shirley Tan I AM a motorist and a novice cyclist, though my cycling is limited to the East Coast Park. I emphatise with Mr Damien Evans, as I find roads here narrow, even for cars. While I do not know the circumstances of his experience, I know that I sound my horn when I see a cyclist ahead of me — not to scare him off the road but to warn him that a vehicle is pulling up beside him. A friend who has just returned from a trip to Penang said that a motorist here flashes his lights at oncoming traffic to warn you against doing something, such as pulling out of a filter lane. In Penang, however, the motorist flashes his lights to signal that you can go ahead. The point is, one man’s aggressive gesture might well be another man’s attempt to help. |
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pharoah88
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26-Aug-2010 14:32
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How drivers and cyclists can share the road safely Near-miss for a driver, near-death for a cyclist
I REFER to the letter “Reader apologises for being a rude cyclist” (Aug 23) by Mr Damien Evans. I would like to comment on the behaviour of both drivers and cyclists.
Drivers need to accept that it
Drivers need to be aware that careless driving not only risks getting dents, scratches and blood on their cars, it also risks causing permanent injury or even death for cyclists.
What a driver thinks is a little “nearmiss” may be a near-death experience for a cyclist.
So drivers, please do not overtake cyclists and then immediately cut left, and please do not drive out of side roads into the path of cyclists.
When I cycle to work, I sport two red rear lights, a fluorescent yellow rucksack, a flashing white front light, a white helmet and a white shirt. Despite all this, some drivers do not notice me; perhaps they’re used to looking out only for large vehicles and they dismiss cyclists as slow and insignificant.
Cyclists also need to play their part to ensure safe, harmonious cooperation in traffic.
Please do not ride through red lights; you may save a few seconds, but you put yourself at much greater risk from vehicles, especially those doing U-turns or rushing to get through an amber light. The small number of riders who do this reinforce the stereotype of cyclists as arrogant hooligans who ignore the rules.
I hope the Singapore authorities, drivers and the general public can consider cycling an essential part of a well-considered transport policy for Singapore’s future.
To achieve this, both drivers and cyclists must behave considerately towards each other. |
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pharoah88
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26-Aug-2010 14:22
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when BOSSES themselves have nO lIfe ? ?? ? hOw can sUch BOSSES help ? ? ? ?
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pharoah88
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26-Aug-2010 13:05
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Bosses, why you should help staff get a life Options sought to better juggle work, family and personal commitments and aspirations Claire Chiang Last year saw the economy in the throes of a worldwide recession and many companies reacted strongly to sliding stock indexes and dwindling profits. In Can We Have It All?, a book by the Employer Alliance, successful practices by smart workplaces here are showcased.
The writer is chairperson of the Employer Alliance, a network of corporations committed to creating an enabling work environment for better work-life integration.
Can We Have It All? can be bought through Employer Alliance (info@ employeralliance.sg, 6837 8681). There are strong reasons for CEOs to commit to work-life integration, empower their managers to implement work-life programmes as well as flexible work practices and continually experiment with different options. Employees, on their part, must realise they are the architects of their own destinies. It is time for everyone to take steps to work smart and live well. Some employees, for fear of losing their jobs, put in more hours at work, while others had to shoulder a larger workload after retrenchments and company down-sizing. Happily, Singapore is seeing a strong recovery and companies are again hiring and building up their staff numbers. But now that it is a job seeker’s market, companies will need to differentiate themselves from the competition to attract talent with experience and expertise. The traditional strategy of emphasising salary and benefits no longer works as the primary pull factor in attraction and retention, especially among Generation X and Y employees. Organisational values and corporate culture developed by Traditionalists and Baby Boomers need to be reviewed in light of the changing needs and expectations of today’s workforce. A study, “Harnessing the Potential of Singapore’s Multi-Generational Workforce”, by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment, found that flexible working hours ranked among the top three preferred organisational benefits for Gen X and Y employees. It also found that across the different generations, having the flexibility to manage work and life demands ranked among the top five motivating factors; and that work-life programmes were perceived to be an enabler in workplace productivity. In a separate survey by StrategiCom and the Singapore National Employers Federation earlier this year, the need for work-life integration was found to be among the top five requirements for talent attraction and retention. With employees and job seekers craving for options that allow them to better juggle work, family and personal commitments and aspirations, it is time for companies to sit down and re-evaluate human resources policies to gain an advantage over other employers competing for individuals in the limited talent pool. Today’s Work-Life Conference will discuss ways employers can tap on work-life strategies to gain that competitive edge. Studies conducted around the world have demonstrated that effective work-life integration programmes not only benefit the employees; bosses and the business gain too. A 2008 study, by the Corporate Executive Board in the United States which polled more than 50,000 workers globally, revealed that worklife benefits boost productivity. People who are happy with such benefits work 21 per cent harder and are 33 per cent more likely to stay at the same organisation. The results of a 2007 poll by the Center for Creative Leadership found that leaders who were rated “more effective” have work-life integration scores 16 per cent higher than leaders who were rated “less effective”. Among companies here, KPMG’s extensive suite of flexible work arrangements to suit its staff’s varied needs, “respect for leave” policy and employee support schemes have enabled it to make working hours more efficient, reduce staff turnover and increase staff engagement. MSD Singapore — which has factories operating round the clock and hires a diversity of employees including researchers, engineers, operation, sales and marketing staff — offers a wide suite of flexible work arrangements. This includes a compressed work week, flexi-hours, telecommuting, part-time and job sharing to meet the diverse job requirements and individual needs. This year, about 50 per cent more companies applied for the Work-Life Excellence Award organised by the Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy than in 2008, giving an indication of the growing recognition of the importance of such strategies to workplace performance. Factors that impact the success of work-life integration include a culture of trust, leaders walking the talk and managers with the right skills. |
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