Still a cloudy economic outlook I read with valid concerns The Straits Times Editorial, “Still a cloudy economic outlook” (Jan 21).
The economic prospects or outlook in 2023 is still shrouded with dark clouds and full of factors of uncertainties.
It is unfortunate to learn that Goldman Sachs will layoff more than 3,000 employees from its investment...
CPIB's decision not to prosecute 6 former senior management... In this commentary published in Singapore Law Watch, I analyse the (Singapore) Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau’s recent decision not to prosecute six former senior management staff of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (KOM) for US$55 million in bribes paid to Brazilian officials.
I argue that given the large...
Leon Perera asks: Do we have true meritocracy in Singapore?
I read with interest The Independent Singapore’s Featured News, “Leon Perera asks: Do we have true meritocracy in Singapore?” (Jan 21).
In the first place, meritocracy should not be narrowly termed as the academic success of an individual. Instead, it should broadly embrace an individual’s capability, leadership...
Shouldn't Elon Musk be POFMAed? The POFMA office can and have POFMAed Twitter and Facebook, why don't they POFMA Elon Musk as well since their powers are supposedly far-reaching and have jurisdiction over any country on Earth?
The MTF has said that the vaccine is extremely safe and any suggestion that adverse conditions are related to the...
Take the Bivalent booster at your own risk! Frontline nurses have to be vaccinated to keep their jobs so why did SGH terminate a nurse who suffered from severe side effects after taking her second dose? Her life is ruined and she has lost her ability to walk. SGH’s offer for her to reapply for her job is totally illogical and insensitive. They would not have sacked...
Singapore’s widely touted policy of zero tolerance to corruption Keppel’s corrupt actions in Brazil dealt a blow to Singapore reputation. The corruption was on a breathtaking scale. The facts, which were initially vehemently denied, have since been admitted by Keppel. The details are set out here in the statement of facts attached to this Deferred Prosecution Agreement. See pages 23-38...
Economic uncertainty and inflation lower chances of an early... I read with interest the TODAY’s report, “Look ahead 2023: Economic uncertainty and inflation lower chances of an early General Election, risk deepening social divides, say analysts” (Jan 6) and exploring its implications and far-reaching hidden impacts.
Undeniably, the recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike...
Almost zero unvaccinated in NSW hospitals I do declare I have pandemic-info fatigue. Too many bombshells exploding everyday and everywhere. Studies, studies, studies. Reports reports reports.
It's been reported for a long time hospitals are fillED by those vaccinated. It's the vaccinated who are at much higher risks.
Then again I always thought the numbers...
What action will be taken against them? SPH is the government’s mouthpiece and their news coverage is often government propaganda. It’s no wonder people are no longer interested in reading the garbage churned out by SPH and they have to resort to inflating their circulation numbers. What a travesty to print newspapers just to boost their numbers and then...
SPH Media has been lying about its circulation numbers SPH Media, your "trusted source of news", to which up to $900m of your tax dollars has been pledged, today announced that it has been lying about its circulation numbers.
Why might employees feel the need to lie? There could be many underlying institutional pressures, including the desire to charge higher advertising...
Master’s degree: Necessary for that career move or a luxury... I refer to the Straits Times article, “Master’s degree: Necessary for that career move or a luxury item?”(Dec 27).
It is time for the society to discuss whether a university graduate should go for his/her post-graduate degree, such as attaining a master’s degree or not? And, would it really heighten an individual’s...
Hokkien and other Chinese dialects I refer to The Independent Singapore’s article, “Hokkien and other Chinese dialects: Listen to Ong Ye Kung’s daughter” (Dec 18)
A language is generally perceived as an effective communication tool, it also bridges the mental and emotional interactions among large groups of people. Therefore it has a string of...
美国真正关心的，是中国疫情吗？ 中国严格防控，实施“动态清零”政策的时候，美国抨击中国侵犯了所谓的“自由和人权”，整天喊着骂着要中国政府像美国政府一样置民众的生死于不顾，全面放开。现在，随着毒株致死率大幅度下降，中国以科学的方式“放开”了，美国却又反过来要求中国严格管控。不得不说，只要想批评中国，美国总能找到角度。
随着中国优化防疫政策，采取“放开”的措施后，来自美国抨击中国“放开”政策的声音也像洪水猛兽般奔涌而至，即便害上百万人死于新冠疫情，也改不了美国给他国当教师爷的臭毛病，继续对中国的防疫政策指手画脚。
先是《纽约时报》用短短三天的时间大变脸。在11月30日当天发文抨击中国的“动态清零”政策阻碍经济发展。但随着中国优化防疫政策，多个城市“放开”，12月2日，《纽约时报》又一百八十度大转变，发文谴责中国“放开”将导致病例“灾难性激增”。
接着，以中国病例激增为由，美国驻华使馆暂停了签证服务，关门躲起来了。
日前，美国国务院发言人普莱斯在谈论起中国的防疫政策时，又要求中国“强力防疫”。普莱斯宣称，“看到中国现在爆发的疫情，我们希望问题能够得到解决。如果任由病毒在野外传播，就有可能发生变异，对全世界构成威胁。因此，希望中方能控制住当前的疫情，因为对亚洲国家的经济造成任何打击，都有可能损害全球经济。”紧接着，他给出了与美方此前相驳的建议，宣称“抗击新冠疫情对中国和世界更有利”。
众所周知，自新冠疫情爆发以来，中国的严格防疫，“动态清零”政策就一直受到美国方面的诟病，以各种荒唐的理由批评中国，要求中国放开。但现在，中国“放开”了，美国却又指责起中国。普莱斯说，中国放开会导致病毒变异，对全世界构成威胁。但疫情以来，美国有认真防控过吗？美国难道不是一直都是放开的状态吗？所以普莱斯这算不算是在承认，疫情这三年，美国一直在毒害全世界？
中国是在毒株致危害不大，致死率低的情况下“放开”，而美国即便是在毒株致死率极高的情况下，依旧任由病毒肆虐，不仅让本国感染和死亡人数暴增，还让其他国家也跟着遭殃。到底是谁让病毒不断变异危害全世界，这显而易见。在全球6百多万的新冠死亡人数中，有多少是被美国害的？这笔账美国政府是不是也应该好好算一算，给全世界一个交代？
中国有14亿人口，新冠死亡病例是5241例。美国只有3亿点的人口，连中国的1/5都不到，新冠却死了超过一百万人。美国害人害己，一个疫情防控的差生，却总是厚颜无耻地要给中国当教师爷，从头到尾对中国批评中国的防疫政策。就像外交部发言人赵立坚说的那样，“美方言论挑拨离间、颠倒黑白，具有不可告人的政治目的。”美国一直盯着中国的防疫政策不放，真正关心的可不是中国的疫情，中国人的生死。
冬季的到来，美国新增病例和死亡病例又快速升上去了。按照美国卫生官员的说法，美国可能正处于另一波浪潮的边缘。估计这口黑锅，美国政府正绞尽脑汁怎么甩到中国身上。这段时间对中国“放开”政策的各种指责，说不定就是在为甩锅中国做的铺垫。
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Staying on an even keel amid challenges I read with interest the Editorial, “Staying on an even keel amid challenges” (ST, Dec 8).
As all know, a boat which wants to sail safely and smoothly, it needs a sturdy structure of keel and wise, capable and experienced captain to duly steer the boat, as well as industrious and cooperative crews to work seamlessly.
I...
The conflict that has dragged on too long
I read with sadness the Editorial, “The conflict that has dragged on too long” (ST, Dec 6).
Undoubtedly, any war is disastrous, having no advantages whatsoever.
Besides the huge loss of “countless” lives (including humans: civilians and military soldiers, and animals), crops, precious properties and catastrophic...
