Speaking to mainstream media reporters at a Tanjong Pagar community event, Minister Chan Chun Sing said that the PAP took "decisive action" on former MP David Ong and the PAP has a very clear stance on how it manages such issues.

Although David may have served the residents well, as a PAP MP, he has standards to follow which the PAP wants to uphold. Due to his affair, the PAP has taken decisive steps to remove David Ong from office.

Chan added that the priority would be to continue serving the needs of all Bukit Batok residents and for the media to give David Ong's family some privacy due to his three teenage children.

PAP MP David Ong has announced his resignation citing personal reasons, ie“personal indiscretions”. David, a Christian with three children, was having an affair with 41-year old Wendy Lim, an active member of the PAP Women’s Wing in BukitBatok.

Image: ASS

In an interview with CNA, David said he would “appreciate if you can give me and my family the privacy to heal and rebuild”. It appears David has forgotten he has been a public figure since becoming an MP in 2011. He has also received close to 1 million tax dollars in MP allowance.

David has also received tax dollars as managing director of Red Dot Publishing which counts the Singapore Tourism Board as its main client. Its total annual circulation for maps in four languages is 3,200,000 copies.

Link

Extramarital affairs is a reality of life, like it or not. It happens in the private sector, military, civil service and of course grassroots organisations. Thousands of affairs are happening at any one time, some with the knowledge of spouses, others not. The fact is women gravitate towards men with power, money or both.

David has a sort of ‘nice guy’ image online and many Singaporeans would like to let the matter rest. However, this is impossible because PAP has painted itself whiter than white, now into a corner.

The internet has a perfect memory and netizens have not forgotten the Yaw Shin Leong scandal, where the mainstream media and PAP went for the jugular.

In 2012, PAP Chairman Hara KiriKhaw, who claimed to be a Buddhist, said that “…once a person enters politics, there is no difference between his or her public and private life” and he also did not hesitate to take pot shots at WP. What goes around has finally come around.

Should David should expect others to be forgiving, and we would really like to, while PAP continues to hit below the belt at every opportunity?

David was in an influential position and was privy to lots of confidential information. Did Wendy benefit from the relationship, besides sexually? This warrants an investigation.

David Ong won’t be the last PAP member to be caught with his pants down. The PAP has attracted self-serving men who are mostly after only money and power. Women in turn are attracted towards such men, no matter how useless to society they may be.

How many Michael Palmers and David Ongs are there?

Dear ASS Editors,

Be on alert for this MOLESTER / RAPIST in CHOA CHU KANG (info here appears to be accurate and is reproduced from a flyer i received).

- Marcus Yow Kai Wen
- Found to be living at Blk 50X Choa Chu Kang St 51, #XX-XXX, S(680XXX)
- Studies at ITE College West (School of Electronics & Info-comm Tech)
- 17 years old
- 1.7m in height
- Pimpled complexion
- Likes to wear a sweater
- Has police electronic tagging on his right ankle (see photo)
- Molested 4 women near his area by covering their heads with plastic bags between 2 - 3am in 2014.
- Molested and tried raping a woman using a knife at void deck of Blk 512 Choa Chu Kang St 51 (next to his block) around 3am in July 2015
- Currently out on bail

http://news.asiaone.com/news/crime/student-tailed-and-harassed-women-night

Mark Chow
A.S.S. Contributor

<Facebook post by Wake Up Singapore>

Just to clear some doubts, David Ong did not resign because he had an affair. He resigned because he was CAUGHT.

On a sidenote, while it is immoral, having an affair is not a crime in Singapore. However, it was the PAP that first demanded the resignation of YSL of the Worker's Party in 2012 when he had an affair.

Now this has come back to bite them in the backside, first with Michael Palmer now David Ong. Isn't it embarassing when the PAP demands high standards from the opposition but can't deliver on those standards themselves?

Moral of the story: People who live in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.

<Complaint by Kayan>

The man in the pic: Nor Azam.

Time & Date of duty: 0035am, 13 Mar 2016
Venue: Singapore Changi Airport Departure Hall

I was bringing my father and my mentally handicapped brother to check in. I was not going in with them and my brother turns back to pull me as he can’t bear to part with me. So the crowd around was watching us. Guess what this staff Nor Azam said to me -‘Excuse me’ with a sense of distaste n loathe, in a revulsion and despise manner. And also with a swinging handsign that asked me to move away.

That’s not all. I was still standing around the gate, behind the glass, bidding farewell to my father and my brother, as they were queuing up their way to the counter when Nor Azam suddenly turns around and stares at me. I was angry, I tried to hold my anger. But on a second thought, I did nothing wrong except that I have a mentally handicapped brother who can’t bear to part with me. A few seconds later, I asked him,”Sir, is there anything wrong? Why do you have to look at me just now?”

He replies in a louder and fiercer voice than me saying that he was looking behind me and says that he found I was staring at him so he stares at me too. My eyes and my attention were all on my father and brother, why would I want to look at you? I kept mum and turn away. I knew it would be an uncivilised act to quarrel in public.

Don’t look down on people who are and whose family members are mentally handicapped. Put yourself in other’s people shoes. You never understand what the family members of the handicapped have gone through, our lives, how much we have to tolerate from the eyes of the public.

Shame on him as Singaporean.

<Complaint by oayaz01>

I'm from one of the countries you listed above though I did my distance learning degree via a top 50 university in UK. In Addition, I also have a professional qualification which is listed in MOM approved qualifications.

My employer ( A big Global bank) applied for my EP via an approved vendor and to my surprise I have been put in the same bracket by MOM. I'm offered SGD 12k and my previous two jobs back in UK were paying me even more then that so guess money can't be an issue.

For vetting, my employer has got pre employment screening done and those checks from my uni and professional school didn't take more than 2 working days. It's already been more than 2 weeks since my application was submitted. I have checked with the student record in my Uni and they haven't received any requests from any agency regarding my vetting/referencing.

Any idea what's happening with these checks as it won't take more than a week at max for my educational checks? Do they do some other checks as well just because I hail from one of the countries that apparently you mentioned above?

No it's just called " move your bum a bit quicker", unfortunately some people don't do till they get a good kick on their backside probably the one's in Singapore! Now maybe that's perfectly legal in Pakistan!!

Click on the forum link below to read more.

In a court hearing on 14 March 2016, lawyers representing Mr Lee Hsien Loong and Mr Roy Ngerng arrived at a settlement agreement for blogger Roy Ngerng to make payment for the damages owed to Prime Minister Lee.

Roy Ngerng's lawyer, Mr Thuraisingam shared that both parties had just agreed last week to settled the legal costs for assessment of damages hearing and Mr Ngerng has to pay $30,000 by Wednesday (16 March 2016).

Under the payment settlement for $150,000 in damages, Roy Ngerng needs to pay $100 every month for the first 5 years and $1000 per month there after until the damages are repaid in full. In all, Roy Ngerng would take 17 years to pay the damages in full under this installment plan.

Roy's lawyer revealed that under this agreement, Roy will not be paying any interest if he makes payment on time. However, if Roy Ngerng, breaks the terms of the agreement in future, he is liable to pay the full damage immediately plus interests.

We refer to the circulating Facebook posts about our poster, “No Playing of Chess at Common Areas”.

We would like to clarify that the poster was only placed at Blk 11 Haig Road and it is not a standard poster of our Town Council.

We have received feedback from residents at the said block that the chess players are causing a nuisance and are playing till late night. In addition, the chess players and onlookers sometimes will block and obstruct the pathway of a covered linkway, causing inconveniences to others. As such, this poster seeks to advise and remind these chess players not to play their games there and to be considerate to others.

As this is a long standing issue, our Town Council has been working closely with other agencies to address it. We would also like to take this opportunity to advise users of void deck to be considerate and to lower the noise volume after 10pm.

Thank you.

Suspected Cash Card Theft.

If you are staying in the Jurong west areas and had your cash cards stolen from your motorcycle IVU this man in the pictures could be your prime suspect. Just a few days ago he was doing the same thing when I was walking towards a motorcycle parked behind the food stall.

He hang around the neighborhood!!

<Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1678425889089616&id=10...

Dear Editors,

As i and my wife was going to shop today we walk past the function hall of RC members at 8pm and after shopping walk past it again at 10pm .What break my heart is there were a group of people enjoying themself in a air con room but this poor doggy was tied up in a very constraint manners for 2 hours !!

We approached the people there and a bespectacled guy in a RC t-shirt talked to us . I told him that we find it very cruel to tie the dog in that manner for 2 solid hours or more ( as we don't know what time the owner tied it there )

And told him if nothing was done for the poor furkid i will put this in stomp , he looked worried when i mention that and went in to find the owner .

I and my wife went away but stand a few distance away. And after 15 min later a large women came out n pat the doggy and went inside the function hall without loosening the poor guy rope .

Are they even fit to have a pet ???

Suriia Anthony s/o Devadass
A.S.S. Contributor

<Facebook complaint by Saifudean Mead>

Salam everybody. Here's an update, a pegawai executive from Masjid Sultan contacted me and he will look into this matter and investigate it with his staffs. He ensured that in the future the staffs will not repeat the same mistake. I hope everyone understand that this is because of an individual. I may be harsh with my last line to fault the whole organization but it does reflect them. I hope too we can see a better Masjid Sultan staffs in the future.

Dear Sultan Mosque - Singapore. My friends and I were chased out of your public praying area by one of your staff around 5pm because a "minister" was visiting your premises. After our(5 of us) Asr prayers we sat down for a discussion about Islam matters and fiqh. Out of a sudden one of your staff came to us and told us to leave the premise because "5 or more people sitting in the prayer hall is an offence".

Since when is this a rule in Allah's house. What make matter worse when he go on and on about Isis and illegal gathering. As this is Allah's house my friends and I just want to leave the hall without any unnecessary argument. As we were taking our belongings to leave he added "as there will be a minister visiting this mosque, it is advisable for you guys to leave because this might be an ugly sight for the minister and the mosque." You know what? May Allah judge you and your organization for this appalling incident and niat. So a minister is greater than Allah? ITTAQULLAH!

Hello everyone, this is an update to the defamation suit with the prime minister.

I have to pay a total of S$180,000. (I have to pay him S$150,000 in damages and S$30,000 for the costs of the hearing.)

(1) I have to pay S$30,000 by this Wednesday.
(2) From April 1, I have to pay $100 every month for 5 years.
(3) After 5 years, from 2021, I have to pay $1,000 every month until I finish paying.

I would like to thank lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam and his colleagues for helping me reach this settlement. I am very grateful to them.

These 2 years since I was sued hasn't been easy. There have been ups and downs.

I am just glad that it started a conversation on the CPF and some enhancements were made to the CPF.

But I have learnt some lessons as well. I should have been careful with how I say things. I am thankful to have reached the settlement with the prime minister.

I hope to have a fresh start. I have been looking for a job and doing freelance photography. I hope to be able to find a job and make use of my work experience and skills in an area that I could make good use of. I miss contributing effectively to make positive change.

After the last election, a choice was made. I hope that this will be one that will put the country in the right direction. People choose what they are ready for.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who have supported me over these years. Thank you for believing in me. I did what I could. And I am glad that somehow, we were able to make a difference.

Also, I would like to thank my parents and my family. I wouldn't have been able to get through this without them. At a time where I had even lost friends, they have been an unwavering pillar of support.

I hope this marks an end to a chapter and hope that we can move on from here.

If you would like to help to defray the costs, you can also fund raise to the bank account at POSB Savings Bank Account 130-23068-7 (Ngerng Yi Ling).

Thank you once again

In a video post uploaded on WP's official Instagram channel, Worker's Party Chairman Ms Sylvia Lim has confirmed that the Workers Party will not be contesting the the by-election in Bukit Batok.

This announcement will bode well for the Singapore Democratic Party and paves the way for a straight fight between the PAP and SDP. Are the stars aligned for Dr Chee Soon Juan to complete his political resurrection and finally fight for Singaporean rights in Parliament?

You can watch the video at the link below.

Dear ASS Editors,

I had previously written an article on the difficult and thankless job of LTA officers in keeping the roads and pedestrian paths safe for different types of road users as well as on the safe and responsible riding of electric bicycles. (“Let us be appreciative of LTA officers”)

I would like to appeal to LTA to legalise the use of gasoline-driven bicycles. Below are my reasons:

1. 1. Electric bicycles are much more quiet thus other road users are not aware of their presence (so the responsible cyclists will ring their bicycle bells to create awareness). The “put put put” sound from gasoline-driven bicycles helps to create awareness of their presence.

2. 2. The electric bicycles are not necessary more environment-friendly than gasoline-driven bicycles. This is because the electricity used to charge up the batteries are obtained from the burning of fossil fuels in the electricity generating stations anyway.

3. 3. Disposal of spoilt batteries is not environment-friendly.

4. 4. But both electric bicycles and the gasoline-driven bicycles are still more environment friendly than the normal motorcycle simple because the normal motorcycle is much heavier.

5. 5. Gasoline-driven bicycles do not fear rainy weather as much as electric bicycles.

6. 6. As long as the various specifications are in place, gasoline-driven bicycles are not necessarily more dangerous than electric bicycles. There can be similar limits on weight of bicycle, maximum speed/power, etc.

Hope LTA will seriously consider these views and hopefully legalise gasoline-driven bicycles, thank you.

Suvat
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear Editors,

With the resignation of PAP Bukit Batok MP David Ong, people have to realise that the PAP of today is not "whiter than white" as in the PAP of LKY 's time. The new breed of PAP today, is standing behind a brand. Got voted in because they wear the brand.

But they, as individuals, may not have the same integrity and honourable character held in LKY's time. LKY is gone, the type of people he brought into PAP is dwindling. The new breed of people in PAP cannot be equated with the old. Voters have to be discerning. With all due respect, just because they are PAP does not mean they are the best as proven in the recent resignation.

With the by-election, it would be better that WP step up to the plate and contest. Good luck, WP !

REALITY
A.S.S. Contributor

The decision of the High Court of Singapore ordering blogger Roy Ngerng to pay damages to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong following a civil defamation suit brought in 2014 constitutes a major blow for freedom of expression in the country, said the ICJ today.

In a judgment released on 17 December 2015, the High Court ordered Roy Ngerng to pay SG$100,000 in general damages (approximately US$70,667) and SG$50,000 (approximately US$35,330) in aggravated damages.

This decision comes approximately six months after a three-day hearing on assessment of damages took place.

“Under international standards, individuals must not be the target of defamation actions over comments made about public figures, particularly where the subject matter is of public interest,” said Sam Zarifi, ICJ’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

“This decision sends a clear message that the people of Singapore are not in fact free to express their opinions about matters of public interest,” he added.

This suit against Roy Ngerng was brought by Prime Minister Lee who argued that Roy Ngerng, in his blog, suggested that the Prime Minister bore responsibility for criminal misappropriation of the Central Provident Fund (CPF), the social security savings plan of the citizens of Singapore.

In a summary judgment delivered in November 2014, the High Court found Roy Ngerng liable for defaming the Prime Minister. Roy Ngerng was later ordered by the court to pay Prime Minister Lee SG$29,000 (approximately US$22,300) for the legal fees and related expenses incurred pertaining the application for the summary judgment. Roy Ngerng did not appeal the High Court’s decision.

“The government’s ongoing use of defamation proceedings to silence critics is a deplorable practice that undermines the rule of law. It is very concerning to see measures imposed in the region that cast a chilling effect on freedom of expression of activists and human rights defenders,” said Zarifi.

The findings in this decision are inconsistent with international standards on freedom of opinion and expression that establish that pecuniary awards should be conferred only when non-pecuniary remedies, including apology, rectification and clarification are insufficient.

Background:

Roy Ngerng maintains a blog called The Heart Truths to discuss social issues. Many of the posts on his blog advocate for more transparency in the management of the Central Provident Fund.

On 15 May 2014, Ngerng published the allegedly defamatory post on his blog. A few days later, he was asked by the Prime Minister’s lawyers to take down the post, apologize and make a written offer of damages and costs, which Ngerng did within the following five days.

Despite these actions, the Prime Minister proceeded to sue the blogger for defamation. Prime Minister Lee later applied to the High Court to enter interlocutory judgment for damages to be assessed. The court ruled in his favor.

The hearing on the assessment of damages took place from 1-3 July 2015. At the end of the hearing, the High Court directed the parties to file written submissions to address issues that were raised during the three-day hearing.

In June 2015, the ICJ submitted a legal opinion to the High Court in support of certain aspects of the defendant’s position.

Contact:

Emerlynne Gil, ICJ’s Senior International Legal Adviser for Southeast Asia, t: +668 4092 3575 ;
e: emerlynne.gil(a)icj.org

A waiter Chew Yeow Keong was sentenced to 10 weeks jail for touching the buttocks of another 20 year old man multiple times at Orchard MRT early this year.

The victim was on his way to work and exiting Orchard MRT when he felt someone caress his buttocks. When he turned around to look, he saw Chew and confronted him. Feeling outraged, he sought the help of Transcom police officers to apprehend the suspect.

CCTV footage show that Chew followed the victim closely and used his right hand to brush against the victim's buttocks at the fare gate. This is Chew's second conviction, in 2002 he was jailed and caned for outraging the modesty of another 17 year old male victim.

Dear ASS Editors,

Holland Bukit Panjang Town Council probably has the worst town council management ever! I called them after a week as the rubbish at the lift lobby has accumulated and not been cleared.

The yaya papaya Customer Service said they will clean,but up till today the rubbish is still there. Vivian Balakrishnan is concerned about hawker centre ceilings in WP's Aljuned GRC, but does not care about the cleanliness in Holland Bukit Timah GRC.

(Our whole family voted SDP by the way)

Pissed Off Resident
A.S.S. Contributor

35% of security officers yet to attend required training

I refer to the article “35% of security officers yet to attend required skills training” (Channel NewsAsia, Mar 11).

It states that “While new licensing requirements for the security sector will kick in at the start of September, about 15,000 active security officers, or 35 per cent of the industry, have not been trained in line with requirements.

To date, about 180 security agencies, or 70 per cent, of all such agencies have started doing so.

By Sep 1, agencies must ensure their security officers complete the required training under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications framework for Security. Security officers should also be paid wages that are in line with or higher than levels specified in the Progressive Wage Model.

$1,100 salary after required training?

For example, under the model, security officers should get a basic monthly pay of S$1,100 or more, after completing certain training modules on topics such as handling security incidents.”

Basic median salary still only $857?

After all these years of rhetoric and initiatives to increase the pay of security guards – according to the Ministry of Manpower’s wages benchmarking tool – their median basic salary is still only $857.

30% still not getting higher wages?

As to “Around 70 per cent of local security officers are already enjoying higher wages and better skills training, half a year before all security firms here are required to roll out these benefits” (:7 in 10 security officers getting better pay, training“, Straits Times, Mar 12) – does it mean that around 30 per cent are still not getting “higher wages”?

Breakdown into S’poreans, PRs& foreigners?

With regard to “All 250 security agencies – comprising some 33,000 security officers who are Singaporeans or permanent residents – have to adopt the progressive wage model by Sept 1, or risk losing their licences”– how many of these 33,000 security officers are Singaporeans?

How many security officers are foreigners?

To what extent has the majority of security officers being non-Singaporeans contributed to their low pay?

LeongSzeHian

<Facebook post by Lee Khye Hong>

Price of organs in Malaysia:
Heart RM800k
Kidney RM600k
Eye RM10K
Lung RM100K
Liver RM200K

Please be careful everyone... kidnappers are now looking for CHILDREN under 15 years old... They are looking for CHILDREN's ORGANS as they still works well... Be aware if u see Thailand car number plates or strange looking cars or foreign cars around your housing area...