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SDP: PAP MINISTER VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN CALLOUS TO PROBLEMS FACED BY YOUNG HAWKER

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Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's response to a complaint by a hawker clearly demonstrated the Minister's lack of empathy for the difficulties that ordinary Singaporeans face.

Mr Douglas Ng, a young hawker who sold fishball noodles, had complained about the PAP government setting ceiling prices for hawker food at NTUC-run stalls.

Mr Ng said that it is unfair to cap prices as basic ingredients are expensive. He wrote in his Facebook: "How can we expect hawkers to make a decent living?"

But instead of helping him resolve the problem, Dr Balakrishnan said that rental rates of hawker stalls are low. He ignores other costs.

For example, Mr Ng's noodle supplier has to pay high rent for his shop (the landlord, by the way, is probably the PAP government) and he is going to pass the cost on to Mr Ng. And what about utilities? Electricity tariffs was raised in June this year and gas tariffs just went up today. Then there is transportation cost. Hawkers and other small businesses need vehicles to ferry their goods and supplies. With COEs at the current rate, how does one run a business and make it profitable?

To be absolutely clear, these problems are all PAP made.

And yet, Dr Balakrishnan avoids mentioning them, choosing to tell the young hawker that his rent is low. How does this help Mr Ng who still faces the problem of trying to make a living from hawking?

Businesses, especially small businesses, are finding it hard to survive because of high shop-rent – much of which is collected by Government-owned real estate conglomerates like MapleTree and CapitaLand.

The cost from the high rentals is then passed on to the consumer. This is why Singapore has become the most expensive city in the world.

Yet, we have ministers who live in a world of their own, unable to understand the hardships of the average Singaporean.

In 2007, for example, when PAP MP Dr Lily Neo pointed out that meals at hawker centres were too expensive for the poor, Dr Balakrishnan haughtily replied: “How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant? ”

His colleague Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Tan Chuan Jin mused that some of our elderly poor collected cardboard because they wanted to “exercise”.

To top it off, Mr Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore needed “natural aristocrats” without which society would fail. On another occasion, he said it was "not fun"to be poor.

All these are indicative of the mindset of PAP ministers who, with their astronomical salaries, have become out of touch with – and even callous to – the everyday problems that ordinary Singaporeans face.

Singapore needs a government that cares.

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FT GRASSROOTS LEADER IS A "WORLDLY" ROLE MODEL FOR S'POREANS?

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Dear ASS,

Our sage Chan Chun Sing is absolutely right. Singaporeans should move out of their comfort zone, and emulate world class talents like John Duncan Tasker who has "global and regional perspectives".

John Tasker (45), a former British military officer and personal protection officer of Princess Diana, left the military for the corporate world in the late 1990s. According to Linkedin, Tasker has stints at Interact Systems UK Limited (Head of Retail Projects, 99-01), HyrdoChina (Intl Engagement Director, 03-04), Getronics (Dutch ICT Services group, 04-10), Right Management (Market VP, 10-11) spanning Europe and Asia Pacific.

http://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/media_centre/singapore_headlines/2012/...

Tasker then took a bold step, and ventured to 'pro-foreigner'/colonial hung-over Singapore to join JLC Group of Companies in 2011 as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). Tasker in his early 40s was living the dream expat life, and leading the People's Association (PA) community as the Vice Chairman of Upper Changi Neighbourhood Comittee . It was great, while it lasted.

In the words of Chan, John Tasker has indeed "go forth, see the world, and conquer the world” by extending Anglo Saxon dominance in Asia. This can be seen with Tasker's "global perspectives" that he should assert white privileges over the local Singaporean Asians when it comes to securing a parking spot.

Chan is right about going overseas, "it’s painful",it’s difficult", and "it has its challenges". Tasker can attest to that, as he now faces two charges, namely for the use of criminal force and for driving rashly towards another driver, Yi Yongjie.

Parking "Douchebag" Cheesepie

#PeoplesAssociation #ViceChairmanUpperChangiNC #COO-JLCGroup #British #ThugLife #ParkingCB #JohnTasker

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CELEBRATE SG50 BY GIVING INCOMPETENT SMRT S$50 MILLION FINE?

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One, SMRT’s managing director of trains Lee Ling Wee acknowledged on Channel 5′s Talking Point seven days after the disruption that the train operator “doesn’t have the organic capacity to cope with this level of disruption”, pointing to the sheer volume of commuters descending on the concourse when services stopped. He said he hoped for the matter to be addressed at a national level.

An operator asking for the problems to be addressed at the national level but keeping the profits to itself? Is it a coherent response to the public?
Can we then take it that SMRT is asking to be nationalised?

Can we also take it that all profits generated by SMRT will be contributed to LTA to run national level transport initiatives?

Is time to start thinking seriously what the maximum capacity per carriage is? Is it safe to let trains be packed (with profits for SMRT)? Note some passengers do not have proper handles to hold on. In the event of a collision, the causalities and hurt are unimaginable.

Should there be a mechanism to prevent passengers from descending onto the concourse in the event of an accident? Such a mechanism can be preset into the gantry without a need for massive manpower.

Two, SMRT has attributed the Jul 7 disruption of the North-South and East-West MRT lines (NSEWL) to “weak electrical resistance” of the train network’s third rail insulator.

SMRT seems too quick to want to say sorry, wrap up and move on?

Could SMRT explain what the reason for weak electrical resistance is?

Is it due to corrosion over time? If so, then is the maintenance programme sufficient to detect similar problems in the future?

If it is not due to corrosion, then is it due to poor choice of materials selected during installation? If so, then is SMRT procuring low quality materials? Will there be an audit of the procurement process? Should SMRT be penalised for using lousy materials that led to this major disruption?

Three, these were the conclusions of a team of independent experts from Sweden’s Parsons Brinckerhoff and Meidensha Corporation of Japan, who were recruited by LTA to look into the power supply infrastructure and railway trackside installations.

Should the experts by appointed by LTA or even MOT? Would the experts still be perceived as independent? Should the experts be appointed by another government agency instead?

Can the process of appointment be made more transparent so that the public is aware of the justifications for appointments? Finally, who would recommend the penalty for SMRT? A fine of SGD 50 million to commemorate SG50?

This report evidently seeks to provide some quick and dirty answers to placate the public. On the contrary, there seems to be a lot more questions to be asked and answered.

The most fundamental question is how did we allow the population surge to grossly exceed the capacity of the transport infrastructure?

CWC

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SMRT MADE S$20 MILLION PROFIT IN FIRST 3 MONTHS OF 2015

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Singapore private public transport operator SMRT made more than S$20.1 million in net earnings for the first quarter of 2015 ending June 30.

The Temasek Holdings-owned company are currently under public scrutiny for numerous breakdowns happening every month and especially for the biggest train breakdown that happened earlier this month (July). The Singapore Government, through the Public Transport Council, approved a 2.8% fare raise in April 2015, and the CEO of SMRT, former chief of defence force, Desmond Kuek, take home a record-breaking S$2.25 million in the financial year of 2014 – an amount doubled from what he made when he first joined SMRT.

Despite making record profits, SMRT chief Desmond Kuek however complained that the train business remains problematic:

“While we have made progress on many fronts in the group, the rail business remains a challenge.”

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WHY I WILL VOTE FOR LOW THIA KHIANG OF THE WORKERS PARTY

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Month earlier, my ah ma passed away. As per chinese traditions we held our funeral at our HDB void deck for a weekend.

I remembered very clearly on that Sunday night, Low Thia Khiang dropped by unannounced alone. For the record, we did not know him personally.

Mr Low paid his respects to my ah ma, signed the condolence book and spent an hour plus talking to my family. No media, no reporters around at all. Just himself.

This is what I call sincerity, and for that we are extremely grateful. He wasn't wayang-ing or trying to score publicity points unlike so many other PAP MPs.

For that, Mr Low, you can count on my entire family to vote for you in the upcoming GE.

<Credits: Beyonce_roks>

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WOMAN BREAKS DOWN AFTER INDERJIT SINGH INTRODUCED SUCCESSOR

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Although politics is usually a stoic and solemn affair in Singapore, some incidents stand out for being the exception to the norm.

At the Meet-The-People (MPS) session yesterday, where retiring People's Action Party (PAP) member of parliament (MP) Inderjit Singh introduced his likely successor Mr Henry Kwek, a resident broke down while meeting Mr Singh - not out of anguish, but out of gratitude to the retiring PAP MP.

Long-time Ang Mo Kio resident, 58 year-old Harcharn Kaur said Mr Singh has always been helpful, whether it is with helping her waive her hospital bills or offering her food rations.

“He’s a very good MP, he’s got a very good heart. He treats everybody the same ... I’m going to miss him,” she said.

Speaking for a few minutes at his MPS session, Mr Singh highlighted Mr Kwek’s compassion towards people and his passion in areas such as youth and helping small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).

“He’s quite passionate about some things, including helping SMEs like I have been, and I’m glad there’s someone who will be able to play that role,” said Mr Singh. “He’s got very good plans if he becomes an MP that I think will do good for the constituency and for Singapore.”

39 year-old Mr Kwek is the executive director of private investment and trading company Foodtraco Supplies. He is the vice-chairman of Kebun Baru Citizens’ Consultative Committee, but helps out in the Chong Pang ward where he served under Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam for years.

Mr Singh told the media that he hopes Mr Kwek can stand in the constituency, but added that the PAP chief, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will have the final say on which candidates to field. “I’ve been in the party for many years, I know that at the last minute, there can be many changes.”

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CHIEF OF DEFENCE FORCE NG CHEE MENG RETIRES FROM THE SAF

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Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announced on Facebook that Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng will retire from the Singapore Armed Forces on Aug 18. He will be replaced by current Chief of Army, Major-General Perry Lim.

The sudden retirement prompted speculation the LG Ng Chee Meng might be running in the upcoming General Election.

LG Ng spent 29 years in the SAF and currently holds directorship appointments in organisations like Singapore Technologies Engineering, Jurong Town Corportation and DSTA.

When queried about his immediate plans, LG Ng said: "While I do not rule out the option of returning to the Administrative Service or entering politics if the opportunity presents itself, my immediate focus is on handing over my duties to the incoming Chief of Defence Force."

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AUTISTIC WORKER DIES AFTER BEING IMPALED BY EXCAVATOR

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A 29 year-old worker - who was reportedly suffering from autism - was killed yesterday in a freak accident which took place at a construction site in Sungei Tengah. He had been brutally impaled by an excavator operated by his colleague.

According to eye witnesses, the 29 year-old was working on site when the excavator's metal arm accidentally pierced his left thigh, causing him to scream out in pain.

The wound caused by the excavator was large and had cut through to the bone, severing a major artery in the process. This caused the victim to bleed profusely.

Despite the best efforts of over 7 other workers on the scene, one of whom called for an ambulance immediately, they could not stop the 29 year-old victim from suffering further blood loss. When ambulance staff arrived, the man was already unconscious. He died along the way to the hospital.

Police have arrested the colleague operating the excavator. Investigations are ongoing.

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PRC MAN BEGGING IN TAMPINES RELEASED BY POLICE WITH LAME REASON

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Dear Editors,

I was at Tampines St. 44 Block 478 this morning at around 8.30am until 9.30am. This PRC sitting at the centre of walkway next to the newspaper vendor with a small red plastic cup in front of him and people give him money.

We called police and they came to check. After few questions, police said he has valid permit in Singapore and let him go becauce there is no evidence he was begging.

Not sure what evidence is needed when people walked by put money into his cup and then he sit on the floor with a cup in front means what?

Maybe relaxing and watching people walking around as a hobby....as teochew said..LAH LIANG..

Puzzling...

Tan KC
A.S.S. Contributor

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FORMER BANKER FINED $6K FOR FILMING UPSKIRT VIDEO OF WOMAN AT MARINA BAY

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Former senior bank executive, 45 year-old Yuen Kum Fai was sentenced to a fine of $6,000 for filming an upskirt video of a 27 year-old woman at an escalator in Marina Bay Link mall at Marina Boulevard on 9th December 2013.

The former global head of personal banking and preferred banking at Standard Chartered Bank was found guilty of insulting the modesty of his 27 year-old victim after a 3-day trial in June this year. However, he was cleared of 2 other similar charges.

During the trial, the court heard that Yuen was on his way to work at Standard Chartered Bank when he used his mobile phone to capture an upskirt video of the victim.

The victim's colleague, who was several steps behind Yuen on the escalator, had seen him holding the camera phone below the victim's buttock and even tilting the phone subsequently. He alerted security officers who apprehended him and handed him over to the police.

Yuen's defence lawyers, Mr Amarjit Singh Sidhu and Mr Javern Sim, defended him by saying that he was taking a random video and intended to screen-grab pictures of women's clothes for an intended shopping trip to Malaysia.

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COMMANDO OFFICER EXTENDS NS TO TAKE PART IN NDP PARADE

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LTA Hafizuddin bin Mohdar’s Operationally Ready Date was originally on 11 Jun.

However, the NSF Commando officer voluntarily extended his NS to 10 Aug – all so that he could march in this year’s NDP.

“I was first involved in NDP in 2011,” he said, and nothing was going to stop him from joining this year.

He was a flag raiser back in 2011 for the National Cadet Corps

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MAN THREATENS WOMAN WITH PENKNIFE WHILE MASTURBATING IN FRONT OF HER IN PUBLIC

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A mentally ill 22 year-old Soh Wee Boon was sentenced to 4 months jail today for threatening a 24 year-old woman on 16th December last year and forcing her to watch as he fondled himself in public in front of her.

However, the court backdated Soh's sentence to his remand since April this year and he was allowed to leave a free man immediately after the sentencing.

The former waiter was convicted of criminal intimidation and insulting a woman's modesty in Woodlands.

On 16th December, Soh had approached a 24 year-old woman who was walking home in the evening and asked her to buy some tissue packets from him. He told her about his family background and tried to gain her sympathy.

When the woman refused and told him that she did not have enough money to buy the tissue packets, he forced her into a corner of the void deck and told her not to shout or call the police as he had a penknife.

Fearing for her life, she kept silent as he started to touch himself in front of her.

According to Soh's defence lawyer Mr Ng Shi Yang from the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme Fellowship, Soh suffers from mild intellectual disability and has previous convictions for theft, committing an obscene act, insulting modesty and criminal breach of trust.

Mr Ng added that Soh and his mother are the sole breadwinners of the family. His stepfather is serving a jail sentence for drug-related offences and his elder brother, life imprisonment for culpable homicide. His younger brother had been detained in the Boys' Home before.

Mr Ng said Soh intends to continue his outpatient treatment at the Institute of Mental Health.

He asked for a sentence that would allow Soh to be released and this was granted by District Judge Lim Keng Yeow.

Still, Judge Lim said he was concerned that Soh reoffended not long after he was last sentenced for another similar offence.

He told Soh that it was "absolutely essential" that he commits himself to treatment "not just for a short period of time, but for weeks and months to come."

Soh could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined for criminal intimidation; and jailed for up to one year and/or fined for insulting modesty.

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MISSED MOVIE AFTER APPREHENDING UPSKIRT PERVERT, BUT CATHAY CINEPLEXES SAYS "NOT THEIR PROBLEM"

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Dear A.S.S.,
 
Cathay Cineplexes now tell me to watch my movie and don't be kaypoh(Busybody) catch criminals. They won't refund or exchange the tickets no matter what you do cause it's not their fault.
 
Jem so next time your security guard better do their job properly. I will have to tell Singapore Police Force I/O that i am going for my movie 2 hours and wait for me to be their witness.
 
Online Vigilante SMRT Ltd (Feedback) is the best. Post online, everything solve, no need go down make statement and waste time to assist in investigation.
 
So next time i'll just post on SGAG, SG Share, Stomp, Straits Times, All Singapore Stuff the suspect picture and let him roam free sua. No wonder so many people see offender on train, in public places and all but don't report police, just post online.
 
Seriously.
 
Background Story:
 
Bought Movie Tickets at 6pm, Caught a criminal suspect who I saw taking upskirt photos at 8:30pm. My show at 9:15pm. Police take statement and re-enactment of crime from 8:45-10:10pm
 
Went to ask if i can change my movie ticket, the manager Maria Zavagoza tell me it's not her problem/fault. Emailed the manager problem to Cathay Corporate, Mr Derek, Customer Service Executive of Cathay tell me that it's the rules & regulations that i have to change in person 2 hours before the show. 
 
Like that i rather give charity than give to such money minded organization which will not exercise basic human common sense. Btw i gave them the details to verify with Clementi Police Station I/O and Case number, Cathay can reply me in 30mins that they have reviewed my case EXTENSIVELY and regret to inform you they cannot be change.
 
It's not about tickets replacement anymore. It's how the situation had been handled on a customer service point of view and on a general scale. People already waste time trying to help, then this organization just want to suck the money.(Cinema could had put me in a timing off peak that is often empty and not lose any revenue). Now, I rather really to give it to the poor cleaner auntie than to give to these brainless and heartless organization.
 
If people know their things will be settled also when they help the society, people then will not be selfish, report those molester, people who take video of lady's modesty.
 
 
Henry Goh
A.S.S. Contributor
 
Editor's note: After the issue went viral on SGAG Facebook, Cathay Cineplexes Facebook replied to Henry's post "sincerely apologized" for his bad experience. Their reply was non-committal however and only mentioned that they would look into the matter and contact Henry again. In his latest reply to Cathay, Henry has also requested that any refund or compensation be given to the poor and elderly instead.
 

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MY EXPERIENCE AS A SAF MALAY COMMANDO IN THE 1990s

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Dear Sir,

What you may not understand is the history of Malays serving in the army especially in the Commandos. I served my NS in 1st Commando Bn and during that time (mid 90s), I was the only Malay in my batch.

I had to overcome many challenges then, e.g. no Muslim cookhouse in Hendon camp then, restrictions placed on me, etc. But I managed to survive my NS days with the help of all my Commando buddies, regardless of race. We were a band of brothers.

Even now, Malays in Commandos are few and far in between. So you can understand my pride when I see a fellow Malay Commando who have managed to become an officer, doing the unit proud.

Thank you.

Zullkarnain Aziz

 

<Credit & Thanks to Zullkarnain Aziz>

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MEDISHIELD LIFE COUNCIL SHOULD ASK ABOUT SURPLUS FUNDS?

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New MediShield Life council formed

According to the Straits Times news report “New council to ensure MediShield Life runs smoothly” (Jul 31) – “The council will also advise the Health Minister on matters related to the investment of the funds under MediShield Life.

These funds include any premiums, penalties for late payments, and government grants to the scheme.”

 

How much surplus?

Don’t you find it rather odd that as I understand it, until now, there is still no definitive answer as to what is the surplus of premiums to claims plus accrued interest, since the inception of the MediShield scheme?

Is it more than a billion dollars, as has been estimated?

 

Why actuarial study not made public?

So far, we have only had bits and pieces of information like “why is  the actuarial study on MediShield Life not made public – will the huge increases in premiums in the future continue to exceed claims every year?”

 

Only national health insurance scheme that makes money?

Is the MediShield scheme the only national health insurance scheme in the world that makes money and has accumulated more than a billion dollars of surplus?

Also, it does not cost the Government a single cent, as premiums have always exceeded claims by a wide margin every year since the scheme started.

Is there any country in the world that fines and jails it’s citizens for not paying their national health insurance scheme premiums under MediShield Life?

 

$4bGovt aid

“Massive government aid, to the tune of $4 billion over five years, will make it highly affordable, the Government has assured. This includes the transitional subsidies which will be given to everyone, rich or poor, for the first four years.

On top of that, two in three people will also get 15-50 per cent permanent subsidies on their premiums. The need to access incomes is to make it easy to identify people who qualify and the amount of subsidy they are entitled to.Additional help will be given to those who still can’t afford the premiums.

For the majority, the higher premiums will be entirely covered by Medisave, with the extra 1 per cent in Medisave contribution from employers.

People who are currently not covered by MediShield and have pre-existing illness will need to pay 30 per cent additional premiums per year for 10 years, after which they revert to paying the normal premiums for their age band.” – Does this $4 billion exclude any projected increased collection of premiums over claims?

 

Up to 189% increase in premiums?

According to an earlier analysis by Mr S Y Lee and Mr LeongSzeHian– “111 to 189% increase in premiums?” – “The increase in premiums from 2019 compared to the current premiums, after the declining transitional subsidies range from 111% (from $9 to $19 monthly for the lower-income with household per capita income less than $1,100) to 189% (from $9 to $26 for the high income) for age 31 – 40.

For age 51 – 60, the increase range from 28% (from $29 to $37 for the lower-income) to 83% (from $29 to $53 for the high income).

With regards to the Government providing almost S$4 billion in subsidies and financial support over the next five years – does it mean that the average subsidy per year is about $800 million?

 

Govt still not spending any money on healthcare?

If so, does it mean that from a cashflow perspective – the Government may still not be spending any money on healthcare, as the total annual contributions to Medisave and the annual interest on the total Medisave balances, may continue to exceed Government healthcare expenditure and all withdrawals from Medisave by way of direct medical expenses, MediShield Life, Private Integrated Plans and ElderShield premiums, etc?”

 

 

Win battles lose war

A.S.S. Contributor

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PRC PANDAS FAKE PREGNANCY TO GET "BETTER TREATMENT" AT ZOO

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When Taipei Zoo's resident giant panda Yuan Yuan started showing signs of pregnancy - a rare event given the giant panda species' narrow mating window - zoo keepers immediately lavished her with food and round-the-clock attention. However, they soon realized that the pregnancy was a false alarm and discovered something more disturbing - Yuan Yuan may have feigned pregnancy to receive the additional benefits that expectant bears get.

According to her keepers, Yuan Yuan - who was artificially inseminated earlier this year - initially exhibited tell-tale symptoms of pregnancy, like a loss of appetite and a thickening of the uterus. Yuan Yuan’s fecal progesterone concentration was also on the rise. Yet ultrasound scans determined that Yuan Yuan was not pregnant.

Zoo keepers revealed that pregnant pandas are typically treated like queens. Aside from getting the privilege of staying in “single rooms with air conditioning” and given “round-the-clock care.” They receive more buns, fruit and bamboo as well.

Panda experts have speculated that Yuan Yuan, who gave birth to a cub in 2013, may have realized the difference in treatment and feigned pregnancy to get access to such..

Last year, another female panda named Ai Hin was accused of trying to pull the same trick. The panda, who lives at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, exhibited pregnancy symptoms for two months before experts determined that she didn’t actually have a cub in the oven.

“After showing prenatal signs, the [panda] 'mothers-to-be' are [pampered],” Wu Kongju, an expert at the Chengdu Research Base told international media. “So some clever pandas have used this to their advantage to improve their quality of life.”

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GOVT MAY RAISE GST TO 9 OR 10% AFTER NEXT YEAR

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According to financial experts, the Singapore government may raise the Goods and Services Tax (GST), or other taxes including consumption taxes, stamp duties, and property taxes, in the near future, in order to pay for social spending.

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that Singaporeans would need to "take collective responsibility" for the government's social spending, and clarified that the government had not adopted a "Robin Hood" strategy of taxing the rich more to give to the poor for its current Budget.

This expected increase in taxes will come even in spite of the government's raising of income taxes for top earners in Singapore in recent years.

Experts believe that the GST could go up after next year to 9 or 10 per cent, although experts are divided over when these taxes would be raised.

PricewaterhouseCoopers tax partner Koh Soo How reasoned that since the Government had committed not to raise the GST for five years during the 2011 General Election, any hike would probably take place in 2016 or 2017.

On the other hand, Ernst & Young Solutions head of tax Chung-Sim Siew Moon does not expect a hike in the GST before 2020. “The minister has indicated that the revenue measures that have been put in place will be sufficient for the increased planning needs until the end of the decade,” she noted.

The GST contributes the second largest share, after corporate income taxes, to Singapore’s total operating revenue, contributing about 16.5 per cent in Financial Year 2014.

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CHAOS IN BUKIT BATOK AS POWER OUTAGE AFFECTS HOMES, TRAFFIC & SCHOOLS

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23 blocks in Bukit Batok were affected for about 2 hours during morning rush hour after a power outage took down electricity for homes, schools and even traffic lights in the area near Bukit Batok West Avenue 8.

According to eye witnesses, chaos ensued as working adults and students alike had to cope with their daily routine without any form of power.

Road users had to navigate the estate's notoriously narrow roads without the guidance of traffic lights. Pedestrians found themselves at the losing end of the traffic situation as many vehicles were unwilling to give way to people.

Traffic police arrived some time later to direct traffic flow.

Singapore Power's spokesman said that the company does not know what caused the disruption but added that they are investigating the incident.

"Our officers were immediately deployed on site, and our priority was to restore supply safely as soon as possible," the spokesman added.

The disruption started at about 7.10am, and electricity was gradually restored. It was fully restored two hours later.

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DPP'S BENJAMIN PWEE SHOULD STAY OUT OF POTONG PASIR & FENGSHAN

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Dear DPP and Benjamin Pwee,

Thank you for your interest in participating in the upcoming general elections this year. Your participation in the elections will be beneficial in the push for a more democratic system in Singapore. However, I advice against you and your party’s decision to stand in Potong Pasir and Fengshan SMCs.

Potong Pasir is a traditional stronghold of the Opposition and since losing the last election, Chiam See Tong and Lina Chiam have a special connection with the residents of Potong Pasir. Sitoh Yih Pin is vulnerable. Since winning the seat by only 114 votes, he has been much of a bench warmer in Parliament. As seen in the last election, every vote counts in the bid for the Opposition to retake Potong Pasir. You are a good campaigner and speaker. Lina Chiam or Chiam See Tong needs as many votes as possible to unseat Sitoh. Besides, Potong Pasir is like their home and their backyard. It is not one ward which they would give up easily. It is fortunate that Potong Pasir wasn’t absorbed into Bishan-Toa Payoh or Marine Parade. But there might be no such luck in the next election. Look at what happened to Joo Chiat. When the seat is winnable, let the most winnable party contest it because this might be the last chance to win such a seat if it is not taken.

Similarly, Fengshan SMC was part of East Coast GRC when the Workers’ Party contested and was their second best GRC result behind Aljunied. They have been working hard in Fengshan as part of the plan to take East Coast. As seen from the Punggol East elections, third party contests against the Workers’ Party bring more harm to third party challengers than good. Why waste party resources and money on a contest where the chance of losing the election deposit is high?

My suggestion for you and the DPP is this – to focus resources and efforts on Bishan-Toa Payoh. Your party has members in the team that last contested there – yourself, Benjamin Pwee and Wilfred Leung have worked the ground in the last elections and residents are familiar with you. Bishan and Marymount is filled with private property owners who are not favourably disposed towards the PAP. Besides, your party is in a better position and has better personnel to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh than the SPP.

You, Benjamin Pwee, have experience in the ministry of foreign affairs as a top ranking civil servant. You have been involved in diplomacy before and if an Opposition government takes over, people like you would be valued invaluable in the new cabinet because of your experience.

I am not writing this so that you will be attacked online. That is not my aim and I urge readers of this letter not to do so. Rather, I am writing this so that you might reconsider your campaign options for the good of the Opposition overall.

Thank you.

Ronald Tan

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DPP: VOTERS ARE SMART ENOUGH TO CHOOSE THE STRONGER OPPOSITION CANDIDATE

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In a media on Tuesday (28 Jul), DPP secretary-general Benjamin Pwee said that he trusts voters are mature and smart enough to choose between the PAP and “the best of the opposition candidates” in multi-cornered fights.

“We should trust our voters,” he confidently said.

“If our fellow opposition friends field a candidate stronger than ours, we will obviously either not field our candidate there, or pull back our candidate. If our candidate is stronger… then we will certainly continue to field our candidate there against the PAP, and trust that the other weaker opposition candidates will pull out. If they don’t … I strongly believe that voters would learn from the last Presidential Elections and not split their votes.”

He boasted that he has enough potential candidates to gun for five constituencies. The media reported that DPP has got 15 members. Mr Pwee said the teams he intends to field are made up of, across the board, PMETs in their mid-30s to late-40s. He added that they hold middle to senior management positions and have “experience in government, private sector and non-profit civic organisations”.

Earlier, he has told the media that he will stake claims on (‘DPP to enter 3-cornered fights with other oppo parties‘):

Fengshan SMC
Potong Pasir SMC
Hong Kah North SMC
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
Tanjong Pagar GRC
Fengshan is an SMC carved out from East Coast GRC, which WP has expressed its interest while Tanjong Pagar GRC was a walkover constituency which SingFirst has expressed an interest. The other 3 were previously contested by Mr Chiam’s party, SPP, in the last GE. This includes Potong Pasir, which used to be Mr Chiam’s stronghold.

In the earlier announcement, Mr Pwee said that DPP’s founder, the 75-year-old Seow Khee Leng, will be fielded in Fengshan SMC. Mr Pwee explained to the media that going to Fengshan was to “fulfill Mr Seow’s desire to run there”.

So, in addition to the PMETs in their mid-30s to late-40s, it appears DPP will also be fielding a 75-year-old.

Best man for Potong Pasir

During the interview, when it was mentioned that contesting in Potong Pasir would mean a head-on clash with his former mentor Chiam See Tong, Mr Pwee downplayed the tension.

“Fielding a top-quality candidate in Potong Pasir is about winning it from the PAP, and putting one more credible opposition MP into Parliament,” he said.

“We have reached out a number of times to talk to Mrs Chiam, to jointly discuss and coordinate a common strategy to partner and together compete in the coming GE … We have full respect for Mr Chiam and what he has done for Potong Pasir, and given his age and physical frailty, the opposition parties need to put the best man forward, to win Potong Pasir back from the PAP into fellow opposition hands.”

He said that he and his team has been walking the grounds of Potong Pasir and Bishan-Toa Payoh.

“We have been walking the ground monthly, and we know the residents and they know and support us,” he said. Since January, party members have also been doing door-to-door visits in the two constituencies, he claimed.

His party is calling for “a more equitable distribution of national wealth to the bottom half of the pyramid, through more sustainable policies, rather than short-term handouts”.

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