TR EMERITUS

Dear Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, I am writing as a concerned parent whose child is currently a volunteer at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). I refer to the recent reports on the mass food poisoning outbreak at a YOG venue involving 21 YOG volunteers. You should have called a press conference to allay the anxieties of worried parents like me, but instead you merely told journalists in a side event that MOH and NEA will take "some time" to investigate the case which is hardly a reassurance to me. [Please sign the petition demanding a public apology from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan for mismanaging the YOG here.] I would like to ask you the following questions: 1. What is the causative agent found in the food given to the victims? While I understand that it may take some time for the authorities to conclude their investigations, surely they should have found out the bacteria responsible for causing the diarrhoea by now. In the Geylang Serai food poisoning outbreak last year, the authorities took only three days to discover the causative agent as Vibrio parahemolyticus. 2. Which caterer is responsible for preparing the food? Since NEA has already cleared the caterer of any hygiene lapses in the food preparation, why are you reluctant to reveal its identity? The Indian Rojak seller was pin-pointed as the provider of the tainted food responsible for the mass food poisoning outbreak at Geylang Serai wet market immediately after the incident was reported. 3. What is there a three day delay in releasing the news? The food poisoning outbreak occurred on the morning of 15 August 2010, but you only made a comment on it on the evening of 18 August 2010 three days later. Were you informed of what happened or did you read about it on the internet like me as well? Had you informed the public immediately of the outbreak and the identity of the caterer, I would have pulled my child out of the YOG this week. What if my child came down with diarrhoea after taking the food provided by the same caterer? Are you going to foot his medical bills? 4. What are volunteers not allowed to bring home cooked food? My child has been complaining that the food given was inadequate and of poor quality, and now it appears that the volunteers may be fed unhygienic food as well. I was told that the YOG volunteers are not allowed to bring home-cooked food. It is preposterous to expect our children to work for the YOG free of charge, given "dog" or "dirty" food and still prevent parents from preparing food for them to eat at the YOG venues. 5. Why are there no official press statements from SYOGOC, NEA and MOH on the food poisoning outbreak? It has been nearly a week and nothing is heard from SYOGOC, NEA or MOH on the mass food poisoning outbreak. Are the authorities concerned about the health of the volunteers at all? It seems that they are more concerned about brushing the issue aside and censoring negative publicity about the YOG. I am utterly disappointed, dismayed and disgusted at your rather nonchalant and callous response to this incident. I hope you can give me a proper and decent reply to my above questions instead of asking me to wait till the investigations are "complete" which will probably take months, if not years. Based on what has happened so far, I have beginning to have serious doubts about your capabilities as a minister and I will consider my vote very carefully in the coming general election A Concerned Parent (Name not put down at writer's request)   EDITORS' NOTE: The above letter has been sent to Dr Vivian. Please feel free to use and modify it as you see fit and email to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan at [email protected]. Let us keep up the pressure on him. This matter cannot be put to rest simply like this. In other countries, the minister in charge will have to call a press conference to account to the public and to apologize for it.   Singaporeans, please feel free to email us to share your frustrations, anger and grievances against the YOG. Your views matter alot to us. You are a citizen of Singapore and as a citizen, you have the right to speak up. Let us be your uncensored voice and fight for your rights. Foreign journalists, please stay tuned on our site and Facebook for the latest updates on the ground about the YOG. You can never get any authentic or accurate news from the Singapore media which is ranked a pathetic 133th in terms of press freedom by international media watchdog Reporters without Borders last year. All the papers in Singapore are owned by a single media company – Singapore Press Holdings whose Chairman is a former PAP minister Dr Tony Tan.   Related articles: >> Live maggot found in YOG food >> Ng Ser Miang: YOG gets positive reviews >> Kuo Chuan Primary School principal admits to blackmailing students >> Parents should pull children out of YOG >> No apology from Dr Vivian on YOG food poisoning scandal >> Massive outcry over screw-ups in YOG ticketing >> Why Ng Ser Miang should resign as Chairman of SYOGOC >> Dr Vivian: probe into YOG food poisoning scandal will take time >> PRC photographer fell down from temporary platform at YOG venue >> Cover-up of YOG food poisoning scandal? >> NEA, MOH to probe YOG mass food poisoning outbreak  >> Singaporeans “enslaved” by YOG organizing commitee >> Kuo Chuan Primary School students forced to pay $5 to attend YOG >> Singapore students forced to welcome YOG torch rally >> Mass food poisoning outbreak at YOG venue yesterday? >> YOG! What YOG? >> Canvas roof at YOG fell apart >> Zaqy Mohd defends MCYS >> Singapore students “invited” to attend YOG event >> Singapore volunteers forced to work long hours without rest for YOG >> PM Lee caught napping at YOG opening ceremony? >> Disaster at YOG opening ceremony >> 8 reasons why I am disappointed with YOG opening ceremony >> Netizens lampooned YOG opening ceremony >> No news of YOG opening ceremony in rest of the world >> MOE teacher: How students can stay out of YOG >> YOG Webcast server crashed >> SFI promises to improve “DOG” food for volunteers >> Primary school students stand in the rain to welcome YOG torch >> Plight of Singapore volunteers at Youth Olympic Village >> JC students forced to attend YOG events >> Dr Vivian: Singaporeans are proud of YOG >> PM Lee: YOG has struck a “chord” with our people >> Dr Vivian: YOG venues will not become “white elephants” >> Online pressure forced SFI to provide better food for YOG volunteers >> Improved “DOG” food on 14 August 2010 >> PAP provides three daily buffet meals to YOG athletes and officials >> YOG volunteers complain about being given “DOG” food >> Civil Service Club offering free YOG tickets >> Journey of YOG flame costs Singaporeans $7 million dollars >> Corny YOG propaganda in Straits Times >> Tharman: YOG enthusiasm is real >> Polytechnic student: I don’t care about YOG >> JC students being “volunteered” for YOG >> YOG: What the HELL is that? >> PAP provides YOG athletes and officials three daily buffets >> YOG students being given “dog food” >> Singapore students forced to volunteer for YOG >> Poor ticket sales forced closure of YOG gallery section >> PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to support YOG >> Young Singaporeans hurl vulgarities at YOG >> Dr Vivian wants Singaporeans to celebrate YOG >> NTU students complain about YOG >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. 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We just received a tip-off from a reader that a YOG bus was involved in a multi-vehicle accident (seven cars and a motorcycle) on the Pan Island Expressway in the direction of Tuas two hours ago, causing a massive jam along the PIE. The news was reported by Channel News Asia only one hour later. (read article here) The YOG bus was apparently empty and nobody was reported to be injured. Some motorists were heard hurling profanities at the scene. According to another witness Azhari, the YOG bus did not cause the accident and the only damage to the bus was due to a car swerving to the left and hitting it. YOG drivers have received much flak from the public lately over their driving behavior such as tailgating, honing for vehicles in front to make way and cutting into others' lanes dangerously without giving any signals. It is not known how the accident occurred. In its attempt to ensure that YOG vehicles get to their venues on time, the PAP regime passed a law requiring motorists to give way to YOG vehicles in YOG-designated lanes or risked being fined $130 which is not quite well received by Singaporeans. [Please sign the petition demanding a public apology from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan for mismanaging the YOG here.]   EDITORS' NOTE: Did you witness the above accident? Did you take any photos of it? Do you know what happen? Please email us or upload the photos to our Facebook here directly. We are the FIRST news site to report on this accident way before the mainstream media and other blogs. We bring you the FASTEST news in Singapore, way before anybody else.  Read More →

 A key YOG organiser was seen reprimanding a group of YOG volunteers within the cordoned premises of NTU. The organiser stormed off after creating the scene, leaving behind the group of very unhappy volunteers. Some volunteers even banged the walls in fits of anger, hurting themselves.   Posted by Alex Xu on I hate YOG Facebook   EDITORS' NOTE: If you witnessed or heard about the above incident at NTU yesterday, please contact us immediately. Please rest assured that your identity will be kept strictly CONFIDENTIAL.  Read More →