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Reuters, 5 October 2009 Norway has retained its status as the world’s most desirable country to live in, according to UN data released today, which ranks sub-Saharan African states afflicted by war and HIV/AIDS as the least attractive places. Data collected prior to the global economic crisis showed people in Norway, Australia and Iceland had the best living standards, while Niger, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone scored worst in terms of human development. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) index was compiled using 2007 data on GDP per capita, education, and life expectancy, and showed marked differences between the developed and developing world. “Despite significant improvements over time, progress has been uneven,” UNDP said in a statement. “Many countries have experienced setbacks over recent decades, in the face of economic downturns, conflict-related crises and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and this was even before the impact of the global economic crisis was felt.” Life expectancy in Niger was 50, about 30 years shorter than Norway, according to the index. For every dollar earned per person in Niger, US$85 (RM294) was earned in Norway. Half the people in the poorest 24 countries were illiterate, compared to 20 per cent in nations classed as having medium levels of human development, the index showed. Japanese people lived longer than others, to 82.7 years on average, with life expectancy in war-ravaged Afghanistan just 43.6 years. Liechtenstein has the highest GDP per capita at US$85,383 in a tiny principality home to 35,000 people, 15 banks and more than 100 wealth management companies. People were poorest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where average income per person was US$298 per year. Five countries — China, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia and France — climbed three or more places from the previous year, driven by greater earnings and longer life expectancy. China, Colombia and Venezuela also scored better due to improvements in education. UNDP, which has published the index annually since 1990, said human development had improved globally by 15 per cent since 1980, with China, Iran and Nepal the biggest climbers in the chart.  — Reuters  Read More →

作者：新加坡文献馆 09年9月2日李光耀在一所学院的5周年晚宴上对人民行动党一旦大选败落是否会动用军队接管政权的提问回应是因为有民选总统制的保障所以人民行动党会和平转移政权。 按 etaiwannews的报导：李光耀说：‘即使反对党由于‘freak election result’而掌握政权，他们不可以在没有总统认可之下更换由一个政府官员组成的委员会委任的高层警官，军官以及其他高层官员’。李光耀也说：法律规定 这个反对党组成的政府必须得到总统认可才能够动用储备金，而总统是不会批准这个请求，因为这样做的话‘我们辛苦保留下来的储蓄会在5年内消失’他说‘我花 了15年时间去思考防护设施’。 这一个简短的报导很明确的反映了一些具体状况：民选总统制是李光耀花了15年时间深思熟虑的成 果。这些所谓的防护设施是要为非人民行动党政府制造行政困难，因为这个新政府不可能得到总统的认可去重组军警与民事官僚体系以及动用国库资金。简言之，民 选总统制的政治目的为的就是要妨碍非人民行动党政府的有效运作。这凸显了李光耀相信只有人民行动党才能成功治理新加坡的想法。这是李光耀一厢情愿的政治观 感，事实未必如此，因为人民行动党并不是新加坡生存的必要条件。 在探讨李光耀政治思维下新加坡会否出现和平政权转移之前，应该先了解民选总统制度衍生的历史背景和其过程的来龙去脉。 民 选总统制的产生源自李光耀对freak election result的顾虑；一般上华文媒体把这一词句译为 ‘反常的選舉結果’ 。使用这个带有价值观考量的用词本身就具有极大的误导性与缺乏公正性。为何大选选出人民行动党是正常，而选出反对党却要被视为是反常的选举结果？只要大选 程序符合既定法规，不论任何一个政党胜出都是一个合法的大选结果，那么，又何来会有正常与反常的选举结果区分？国际上没有人把日本在野民主党的压倒性胜利 看成是反常的選舉結果，新加坡不也恭贺了鳩山由纪夫的胜选？李光耀把非人民行动党的大选胜利看成是反常选举结果是不合乎法理的，所以由这个假设而产生的民 选总统制也是不合乎情理的。一个比较客观合理的用词应该是‘非预期选举结果’；也就是出乎意料的选举结果。另外，李光耀认为在非人民行动党政府的5年任期 内国家储备金会消失的说法也只是个人推测。基于这两个虚构的设想，其所衍生的民选总统也自然是个无中生有之制度。 根据国家图书馆编辑《民选总统》的资料：李光耀在1984年4月首次提出有关概念，同年8月的国庆演讲上正式提出。1988年7月政府提出修正宪制确保财务资产与公共服 务廉正的白皮书。1990年3月政府决定要强化民选总统的宪法权力。同年8月发布第二份白皮书在国会讨论。强化的总统权力涉及三份法令：内部安全法令，维 护宗教和谐法令以及贪污调查法令。1991年1月修正的总统宪法获得通过，并在同年2月正式生效。这其中最为重要的总统权力包括：总统有权否决国家储备金 的动用，否决财务政策，否决民事服务，政府公司以及法定机构的重大人事任命。更重要的是在法制程序上总理是由总统任命以及总统有权不同意解散国会。 按李光耀的15年时间思索民选总统制的说法，则从总统法令在1991年正式生效的时间回头追算，李光耀的总统制想法应该是源于1976年时期。这是李光耀以 新血换代为名堂如火如荼淘汰人民行动党元老，进行清算党内非李光耀派系的时段。这正是李光耀巩固个人政治权力的重要阶段。李光耀或许是在布局必要时以总统 制取代总理制。从人民行动党历史来看，自1954年创党以来党内斗争就持续不断，所以李光耀处理党内斗争的经验极为丰富应该是驾轻就熟党内无人可望其项 背。李光耀在安排了解除党内忧患的政治程序后开始专注党外的政治挑战。人民行动党进历了约13年的长期国会垄断后，首次在1981年10月安顺补选失败。 随之1984年12月22日大选失去12.6%的选票及4个议席；大选得票率由1980年的75.5%下跌到1984年的62.9%。1988年的得票率 再跌至61.8%。李光耀为了扭转不利局势于是从1984年开始修正国会制度试图改变竞选的游戏规则。 回顾新加坡这一时段的政治 发展历史，一个合理的认知是，总统制思维源于1970年代李光耀进行巩固个人政治权力时段，之后演化为巩固人民行动党政权的一个重要机制。换言之，总统制 是为了保卫李光耀政权而设，既防止党内权力旁落也制衡党外政治挑战。李光耀在必要时可以竞足民选总统一职以展开新一轮的政治权力斗争。这一个说法可以从李 光耀和吴作栋之间的政权交替过程去进一步了解。 1990年11月28日吴作栋接任总理，李光耀转任国务资政。两个月后民选总统法 令获得通过；一个以总统为权力中心的新政治平台合法就位。李光耀在交出总理职务后依然保留人民行动党秘书长一职。吴作栋要等到1992年的12月才接任党 秘书长职权。这一个政治权力交替安排有其重大意义：党秘长可以通过开除总理的党藉以罢免总理，因为法律规定国会议员一旦离开其所属政党则立即丧失其国会议 员资格，而国会议席是成为总理的先决条件。此外，李光耀在事前清楚表明吴作栋是出任总理职位的次佳人选；这一个伏笔让李光耀在必要时可以在较少的政治代价 下撤换总理人选。由此可见，李光耀在政治权力交替的政治过程中是万分的谨慎，即便是党内的政权转移也是步步为营确保万无一失。 李光耀以总统制衡总理的策略并非新鲜事，新加坡政治历史上已有类似先例。当年李光耀和王永元的权力斗争中，财政部长就是拘押了王永元管辖的国家发展部的开发 资金；不发放发展资金当然也就无从进行任何房屋建设，而王永元就是背负毫无建树的罪名丢官，并随后被开除党籍。总统有权否决财务政策以及否决动用国家储备 金只是这一个旧策略的新版本；但是其有效性却是毋庸置疑的。王永元当市长的时候以办事效率著称，却何以会在瞬息间沦为办事不周之庸才？显然的，新政府一旦 受到总统的否决权约束必定会在行政效率上出现问题。 总统对内部安全法令，维护宗教和谐法令以及贪污调查法令的强化权力有其一定的 政治意义。强化过程是一个权力消长的转变，一方的权力强化则表示另一方权力相应的弱化。从常理来看，其政治目的应该是让总统可以动用内安法令拘禁任何 人；1963年的冷藏行动就是让人民行动党的政敌一夜之间消失。重要的是这个法令亦让总统直接插手有关来自内政的任何威胁。同样的，维护宗教和谐法令可以 让总统有效制止来自种族宗教的政治压力。而贪污调查亦能有效防止官商勾结联手对付当权者，是分而治之防止小团体集中政治权力的有效机制。显然的，这一个权 力强化过程有利总统动员行政机制进行必要的政治手段。从行使政治权力的层面来看，实质上，这是否就是一个总统制的运作？换言之，总统是否可以巧妙换档把总 理制改变为总统制？ 总统否决重要人事任命的政治后果是原有由人民行动党政权委派的人事脉络依旧掌控所有国家资源。换言之，新加坡行之多年的党政不分政体就会在一夜之间转变为党政二分政体让非人民行动党政权空有政治权力却无管辖与动员国家资源的能力。 政权交替最关键性的宪法程序是先行解散原有旧国会，然后由新政府委任新总理领导新的政治领导层。在总统享有不同意解散国会的宪法权力状况下，如果总统不解散 原有旧国会，那么，这是否就意味着旧国会依然拥有治理国家的合法权力？同样的道理，宪法程序要求总理必需由总统任命，那么，如果总统拒绝任命新当选的政治 领袖为总理，又是否表示原有的旧总理依然掌握总理的职权？ 这一些政策解读完全是针对制度变迁过程与结果的两个层面来探索而不是对 有关宪法的诠释。制度变迁研究强调历史过程因为历史发展有其规律与轨迹所以有其必然性。从制度设计的角度来看，总统制的基本政治思维是为了保卫人民行动党 政权，所以其有关的社会约束是着力于化解政治竞争对手的有效竞争能力而不是为了政治权力转移。理论上，这些社会约束能力不利政治权力转移，因为这两个政治 过程所涉及的利益是相互冲突的；保卫人民行动党政权的机制愈是完善则政权转移的过程必定会更为艰难。总统可以拒绝解散旧国会以及拒绝任命新总理就是明显例 子。然而政权转移艰难不表示政权不能夠和平转移。 资料来源： http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1047647&lang=eng_news http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_899_2004-12-24.html  Read More →

From our Correspondent Miss Singapore World runners-up Miss Claire Lee has refuted the allegations made by Miss Ris Low about her which was widely published by the mainstream media. In an article on Sunday Times yesterday, Ris accused Claire of "backstabbing" her by leaking her past probation record for credit card fraud to the press. She also cast doubts on Claire's back injury by claiming that she was "faking" it in order to save herself the embarrassment if she is not selected by the organizers to replace her in the coming Miss World beauty pageant to be held in South Africa in December. Claire wrote on her personal blog that she had been "framed" and provided documentary proof of her visits to Dr Loo, a medical doctor who practises osteopathic medicine as well. It was indicated on her receipts dated in November 2007 that 4 views of her lumbro-sacral spine X-ray was ordered. Claire also released a snapshot of a SMS conversation between her and a SPH reporter who was obviously trying to fish for information from her by putting words into Claire's mouth: "I mean the My Paper reporter, who first broke the story, found out about Ris's conviction through a tipoff, but it was not from you?" Claire's immediate reaction was a "huh?" In a comment posted on our site, Claire denied the accusations which Ris had hurled at her: "I have evidence to prove my innocence.. I know its not sufficient, but its all I’ve got.. I thank all those who did not believe that I told on her because I really found out about her story at the same time as everyone.. http://claireofalltrades.blogspot.com/2009/10/miss-singapore-world-saga-i-claire-lee.html" She won unanimous support for the majority of the netizens. Jun Jie wrote: "What a loser! Ris Low should just back down graciously and give her full support for the next runner up instead of trying to pull her down. I guess Singapore is never going to make it. Might as well withdraw entirely from Miss Universe… not like we will win it at all." wanderer added: "Claire Lee, there’s no need for you to say anything further. Ris Low has shown herself to be more than capable of self destruction. Just sit back and let her do herself in." Andy felt it does not make a difference who leaked the news to the press: "If Claire was really the one who leaked the information about Ris, we should Thank her!! Imagine if the news only got out AFTER Ris had taken part in South Africa?? Singapore would be the laughing stock of the world." Eugene was appalled at the diatribe directed at Ris: "I feel horrified at the comments of readers – and sad to note that the majority of the comments are highly critical of miss Ris Low. Everyone makes mistakes in their life – and Ris Low is no exception. But what horrified and saddened me is that the majority of the comments from readers are highly negative and hurting in nature. Granted Miss Low was guilty of credit card fraud – and the judge sentenced her to probation. But the Singaporeans public at large sentence is a lot harsher – they have endlessly mocked her, and criticised her – like hounds out for blood, they are unrenting on the critism. Miss Ris Low has given up her crown, and it is time to move on. Let’s not continue to mock her and show the worse traits in Singaporeans, of being unforgiving, highly critical etc." William castigated the state media for sensationalizing the matter: "This is simply just our state’s propaganda machine milking the saga and all of you guys are lapping it all up like a desert survivor lapping whatever water’s left from the a cup. This is not so different about the usual girls b!tching about each other, just that this happens to be a high profile case." His views are corroborated by Rainnix: "Claire_Lee, it is obvious that you both had been conned by the papers to degrade yourselves into engaging this cat-fight. Stop responding to the media. Anything your both say will be twisted to fuel the spat thus selling papers." The Sunday Times has sunk to a new low by publishing the potentially defamatory comments of Ris Low without concrete evidence. One may expect to find such news in the tabloids but not in a major English national daily. The entire fiasco has been played up daily by the state media since news broke out about Ris Low's past probation records. Instead of focusing on important national issues such as the rising prices of HDB flats and the relentless influx of foreigners into Singapore, the state media chose to turn a blind eye to them and capitalize on the misfortunes of two innocent girls to increase its flagging readership. The deplorable standards of Singapore journalism is surely a blotch on Singapore's status as a first world developed country. International media watchdog Reporters without Borders ranked the Singapore media 141th out of 173 countries in terms of press freedom below Sudan and Kazakhstan in 2008. At this rate the Singapore media is denigrating itself, it will probably drop below its record low 154th position this year.   Related articles: >> Claire Lee flew off to Bangkok to do charity work >> Ris Low accuses Claire Lee of "backstabbing" her >> Will legal action be taken against Ris Low? >> Straits Times named Ris Low's photo as "sg-stupid.jpg"   EDITORS’ NOTE: If you like our work and would like to support us, please transfer your donations via paypal to our account ([email protected]). Any amount will be greatly appreciated! Alternatively, you can also help boost our advertising revenue by clicking on the ads displayed. Thank you! Join our tweet at: http://www.twitter.com/temasekreview We are looking for the editors of The Campus Observer, Kent Ridge Common and The Enquirer. We are keen to finance their student newspapers. If you know any of them in person, please ask them to contact us at the email above. Thank you.  Read More →