NTU pulls plug on report on SDP visit

Home

News

Singapore

Wednesday, 17 September 2008

Singapore Democrats

The Online Citizen (TOC), a news blog, has reported that officials at the Nanyang Technological University have killed two news stories that were due to be reported by the school's student newspaper, the Nayang Chronicle, and news programme, Nanyang Spectrum.

The Singapore Democrats were at NTU on two occasions in a series of visits to universities in Singapore. Student reporters asked to interview Dr Chee on both occasions when he and his colleagues were at the Nanyang campus. (See here and here)

Unfortunately NTU president, Dr Su Guaning, got cold feet at the last minute and pulled the story in the Chronicle. The University's corporate communications department also told the Nanyang Spectrum that the episode would not be broadcast.

Ironically, Dr Chee's message to the students was that their climate of censorship and fear was anathema to a first-rate education that the students have a right to expect (read Dr Chee's letter to students here).

The student-reporters had showed initiative and drive to keep their fellow students informed about an event they considered newsworthy.

But their mind-guardians felt that somehow the students are intellectually unable to read and watch such news. This is censorship at its most hideous.

TOC also quoted Associate Professor Benjamin Detenber, who chairs the University's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, as saying that “there was a feeling of concern over the use of student media to publicise and promote the unsolicited and uninvited visit of Dr Chee to the campus.”

Whose concern was Professor Detenber referring to? President Su's? The faculty's? The Government's?

What exactly is the concern? That the Government might frown upon the how the reports came about? Or that the students might be politically led astray after reading and watching such news?

Is the university not a place where old notions are challenged in the hope to expand the mind? With professorial attitudes fixated on PAP-correctness, how are the students and the university as an institution going to grow?

Is no one going to challenge the boundaries? Is freedom of thought just a hip phrase to parrot but not practice?

If any good is going to come from this episode, it is that the journalism students have received an invaluable lecture on the difference between what is taught in class versus how the profession is practiced in real life Singapore.

This is not the first time that University officials have stopped Dr Chee from interacting with students. Almost ten years ago, the SDP leader was stopped by National University of Singapore officials from speaking to students on campus. Below is the report:

Police halt politician's speech on campus
Hong Kong Standard
22 Jan 1999

(Reuters) An opposition politician campaigning for free speech was blocked from talking to students at Singapore's top university after police told him to leave the campus.

Chee Soon Juan, leader of the small Singapore Democratic Party, was told for the second time in a week to leave the National University of Singapore (NUS) by police and officials after attempting to address a crowd of more than 100 students.

"I'm very glad that you've come out in numbers today. Unfortunately I've just been told that this is private property and I can't speak to you,'' Mr Chee said, handing out flyers as he left.

He said he was warned when distributing leaflets at NUS last week that he could be charged with criminal trespass.

University officials say he can speak if invited by students. Mr Chee says students are pressured into not doing so.

Mr Chee, 36, was charged in court for an offence under the Public Entertainment Act this month after giving a speech without a permit, an offence carrying a fine of up to Singapore $5000. A fine of more than S$2000 would bar him from standing for election for five years.

He pleaded not guilty and is set to go to trial on 1 February. Mr Chee says his right to free speech under the constitution is being violated and wants President Ong Teng Cheong to refer his case to the Constitutional Court.

But Minister of State for Law and for Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee said it was "a procedural requirement. It does not affect the substantive right of speech''.

"Of course, when you speak in public... you have to take into account other laws'' such as those against defamation and aimed at maintaining the peace, he has said.

Mr Chee said his campaign would go on.

"I'm not sure if it's going to be next week, but I'll certainly be speaking again. We'll have to see how the trial goes and then we'll make a decision on where and when after that.''

Mr Chee is due to appear in court on Friday to be charged for a second offence under the Act after making a speech to a crowd of about 800 people in downtown Singapore earlier this month.

Mr Chee has been risking arrest since embarking on a series of speeches in protest against a system that requires permission for public speaking, where key media are state-controlled and an Internal Security Act allows for imprisonment without trial.

Mr Chee, whose party is not represented in parliament, says it stifles public debate and is designed to make it hard for opposition voices to be heard.

But officials like Mr Ho say Singapore's strong government is the one most people want and ample chances exist to be heard.

Mr Ho, a member of the People's Action Party which has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965, has said Mr Chee was using the permit system as an excuse to defy the law.

But Mr Chee said that was not his intent.

"I've got a message to get out to Singaporeans that we cannot go on the way that we've been doing.''

http://www.singapore-window.org/sw99/90122hk.htm

Share this article:

Comments (48)

Thu 18 Sep 2008 8:31 AM | Carlson

World class university my foot!

Thu 18 Sep 2008 10:16 AM | ah beng

I begin to suspect that the government is actually mad, literally. Devoid of all abilities to think and reason logically.A government who ACTUALLY believes in and convinced of its own hallucinations. And you can't reason with a mad man. If this is true, then we have a serious problem.

Thu 18 Sep 2008 10:48 AM | AnnA - Govt Making Mistakes.

The more the govt. wants to stop Dr Chee, the more people wants to know why... the more awareness and understanding will emerge, the more support on demand for freedom of speech along with SDP and human rights activists.

People will get curious, why are there too many citizens gets charged by law for voicing out.
And curiosity kills the cat.

Thu 18 Sep 2008 3:32 PM | Malaysian students - what sort of u

Dear Singapore undergrads,

Any president/chancellors behaving like this would be forced to resign in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, all along, any students arrested for anti-govt demo will always be bailed out by the President of the U. This is a tradition and all Presidents of U are always on students side....

I find this really laughable... haha

Thu 18 Sep 2008 4:14 PM | Somebody

Shame on my alma mater.

I truly hope that this serves as a reminder to students of the power structures in place to keep them docile.

There is nothing like witnessing the manifestation of PAP's authoritarian grip first hand.

Thu 18 Sep 2008 4:52 PM | Mike - To the Malaysian students

Malaysia is one of the most fu*Ked up country in the world. So are the F'up Malaysian universities. So, please first laugh at the Malaysian universities before you laugh at NTU.

Singapore's success is clearly an indication of Malaysian's failure. If Malaysia were to be more successful, LKY will not be able to boast about his successes.

It is precisely the failure of the South-East Asian economies that allow PAP to retain power

Thu 18 Sep 2008 4:59 PM | maxChew - Beholden to the modern founder of SIN

I believe all corporate leaders here (CEOs, presidents etc) of Govt or Govt-linked orgs/institutions/companies are aware of their moral obligations to the PAP Govt once they accept their proferred positions which come with huge salaries, bonuses and perks (citizenship also got)...and more so for the FTs (foreign talent like Dr Su Guaning).These people are not bothered with democracy or autocracy or what~have~you. They do what they know is expected of them.One does not bite the hand.....And self-censorship is the easiest to perform.They know from the media esp after the recent court confrontation betw LKY/CSJ ,that Dr CSJ and his SDP coterie have been silently proclaimed persona non grata and to be avoided like the plague.
If they had subscribed to democracy and are against dictatorship or autocracy (oligarchy here), they would never have come here in the first place as quite a few had already not done so in the past.
Dr Guaning from China, a communist oligarchy, did what he would have done back home, maybe worse.
No surprises at all......It's hunky-dory for them and life goes on.Beholden is the key word.

Thu 18 Sep 2008 5:16 PM | A good question - Pls answer

[b][quote]Whose concern was Professor Detenber referring to? President Su's? The faculty's? The Government's?[/quote][/b]

[b]A damn good question??????????

Million $ one????????[/b]

Thu 18 Sep 2008 5:30 PM | Mike - Like that also not happy

[quote]Chee Soon Juan, leader of the [size=medium][b]small [/b][/size]Singapore Democratic Party, was told for the second time in a week to leave the National University of Singapore (NUS) by police and officials after attempting to address a crowd of more than 100 students.[/quote]

that was in 1996..

In 2008, the same thing happens...

Not being chased out of the campus

BUT SDP REMAINS a SMALL party after more than a decade has passed..

Would you still like to join in or vote for it?

Worse still, CSJ and CSC have become bankrupts and cannot run for election..

How can they ever be in Parliament?

Thu 18 Sep 2008 6:03 PM | VijayaRaja - Dunlop

Mike, so you are saying politics is about winning election and making it into parliament.Is it the one and only way?

Dunlop

Thu 18 Sep 2008 6:06 PM | Somebody

Apparently to a political simpleton like Mike, size translates to quality or *shudder* credibility, not unlike how gullible consumers perceive higher priced goods having superior quality.

Incidentally, PAP is the biggest and wealthiest party in the country for the past 30-40 years wielding the power to outmuscle and marginalise the opposition. They must certainly appeal to people like Mike.

We should all stop responding to Mike, who seems bent on derailing conversations over posted articles with his relentless off-topic unsubstantiative attacks on the party or even our neighbours.

Just treat him as another arrogant puppet of the state and leave him be. He destroys his own credibility.

Thu 18 Sep 2008 7:07 PM | | Donaldson Tan - On the bright side...

At least the NUS student newspaper [i]The Campus Observer[/i] reported SDP's visit to NUS. The Opposition not only has to deal with some very unapologetic leaders, but also over-zealous middle managers.

Thu 18 Sep 2008 7:14 PM | ahsayman - @Max Chew

What more can be added to Max Chew's spot on dissection of the issue at hand
other than the lopsided equation of a strong government over a weak citizenry?

Thu 18 Sep 2008 7:37 PM | Nick

Such a sad sad situation.

There's just too many old people bent on forcing irrelavent prehistoric rhetoric on brighter minds.

What's that saying?
Cut the young grass before they grow?

Something like that.

Too much of Sg's population have let their lives be run by fear.

Fear can't be good for the mind.
You'll never be who you really want, or could be if such a negative emotion dominates your precious life.

It's no wonder that some graduates are dying to leave.

What a tragedy.

Thu 18 Sep 2008 7:43 PM | ahsayman - @Somebody

Can we all petition this website's admin to put democractic principles into practice here by conducting a poll of all regular contributors to this forum their opinions whether to have
Mike banned so as not to affect our tranquility?

Thu 18 Sep 2008 7:58 PM | ah beng - why you come to this website?

I agree with Somebody and VijayaRaja. For Mike, it's always about winning elections(yawn). Correct, why should we react to his lousy comments. And why he comes here anyway? PAP website kicked him out is it? I'm sure his comments on their website are just as stupid. Bye Mike. Told you to relax one corner remember?

Thu 18 Sep 2008 8:19 PM | Anonymous - re: Dunlop

[quote=VijayaRaja]Mike, so you are saying politics is about winning election and making it into parliament.Is it the one and only way?

Dunlop[/quote]

Good question. Many great people who changed the world around them were never in parliament.

Thu 18 Sep 2008 9:07 PM | Tan Tai Wei

Salespersons, such as insurance and publishing agents, enter our universities regularly to promote their knocking on doors and leaving all sorts of promotion literature in mail boxes. They were never stopped.

Do the authorities realise that they are going against the Constitution and 'rule of law' when they treat a legally constituted opposition political party as some illegal 'conspiracy' to be shunned?

Do they, and the PAP, have the 'helicopter view' to see how 'subversive' of our nation such attitudes are?

Thu 18 Sep 2008 10:54 PM | Nick

Actually Mike adds spice to serious debators.

If we didn't have peoepl like him around, then there'd be nothing to prove.

Democracy is about voicing out opinions, and not holding grudges about it.

Just my 2 cents.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 12:49 AM | Under Achiever says

I had just finished a tutorial when SEVERAL people told me that Dr. Chee was in the deck. I rushed, and true enough, was rather disappointed to find that he had already left.

And mind you, it wasn't just I who was disappointed. His visit has already been cited in several tutorial classes that I've been to as a reflection of how the political arena in Singapore IS changing for the better. :)

I believe that I speak not only for myself but my fellow students when I say that Dr. Chee and gang are a light to us. A light that we certainly hope will return to our campus soon.

You've created the stir. So lets keep the momentum up!

Mike, I hope a certain influential leader's office doesnt pay you to monitor this site.. if they did, I think, err, they ought to do away with you. You're not doing a very good job of being discreet in your "subliminal influence". Hehe..

but what do i know. I'm just an under achiever what hor?

Fri 19 Sep 2008 1:25 AM | Mike - re: Still young and easily excited..

[quote=Under Achiever says]
I believe that I speak not only for myself but my fellow students when I say that Dr. Chee and gang are a light to us. A light that we certainly hope will return to our campus soon.

You've created the stir. So lets keep the momentum up!
quote]

Friend.. you are still young and gullible..

What do you mean CSJ is a light to you?

He's in hot soup himself, being a bankrupt and not discharging himself from it so that he can have a chance (if at all?) to go into Parliament..

It's no use shouting in the streets and even in the Speakers' Corner..

The real work and power is in the Parliament...

Get elected if you can!

Fri 19 Sep 2008 1:33 AM | hk - Alumni should resign & tell the PAP

College Students are being treated like kindergartens kids.

If it makes sense, Alumni should resign until such mini-dictators stop following that Corrupt Dictator & his clueless, useless son, anointed as PM of this country!

The universities try to build the Alumni as a source of funds. Resignations and announcements of such resignations may pass the message very clearly to the Cowards managing the Universities that they should be loyal to their Universities; and not be beholden to the Political Party in Power!

Such Managers/Academics are simply not being true to themselves & their ideals. It reminds me very clearly of what Mr Nair said of that Ugly Shrew who prostituted for the Dictator; instead of upholding the Constitution and the Laws of the Country.

The way that Mr Nair went about to achieve his aims may not be palatable for some Singaporeans, but the message itself is true.

The newspapers of this country is another prostitute in the service of the Dictator & his useless/clueless son.

Now we have the Universities, institute of higher learning (learning what the Dictator want you to learn and believe blindly).

It only tell me one thing: these mini dictators heading the Poodles; Newspapers; Universities are nothing more than Prostitutes and Gigolos in the service of the Dictator.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 2:05 AM | ahsayman - @Mike

Hee, hee, a cold shower does work! Mike is now sprouting Queen's English instead of his psuedo Singlish pretence Way to go! Mike! Have a seat.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 5:14 AM | Fong M.Y. - Singapore Politic Infested with Cronies

[quote=Tan Tai Wei]Salespersons, such as insurance and publishing agents, enter our universities regularly to promote their knocking on doors and leaving all sorts of promotion literature in mail boxes. They were never stopped.

Do the authorities realise that they are going against the Constitution and 'rule of law' when they treat a legally constituted opposition political party as some illegal 'conspiracy' to be shunned?

Do they, and the PAP, have the 'helicopter view' to see how 'subversive' of our nation such attitudes are?[/quote]
Dear Dr.Tan T.W.,
43 years is long enough for PAP prejudice rules entrenched into our society.
The whole system is infested with their cronies and it's becoming from Bad to Worst !
Please help..........
Regards,
Fong M.Y.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 6:03 AM | Carlson

I second Nick's idea. Democracy is about tolerance. Let's debate. If no agreement can be reached, at least we can agree to disagreement. Live and let live. Unlike PAP, we are not going to bankrupt or jail our opponents.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 6:31 AM | Anonymous

[quote]
Malaysia is one of the most fu*Ked up country in the world. So are the F'up Malaysian universities. So, please first laugh at the Malaysian universities before you laugh at NTU.

Singapore's success is clearly an indication of Malaysian's failure. If Malaysia were to be more successful, LKY will not be able to boast about his successes.

It is precisely the failure of the South-East Asian economies that allow PAP to retain power
[/quote]

Hi Mike,
is your success at Geylang a failure of your other social skills?

Fri 19 Sep 2008 6:33 AM | Anonymous

[quote]
What do you mean CSJ is a light to you?
[/quote]

Hi Mike,

do you on or off the light when at Geylang?

Fri 19 Sep 2008 7:19 AM | | NOT MY SDP - Exploitation

Student media should not be exploited as publicity for political parties, SDP in this case.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 7:29 AM | Mike - anonymous

Dear All,

It seems that you like to relate me to Geylang. Assuming that go along that line of argument, at least I have fun and fu*k all the women I want ... and you? You are stuck with one ... and she will grow fat and old and ugly. Good luck to you.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 7:30 AM | anon - I agree with Mike

I think Malaysia is much more screwed than Singapore. I also think the Malaysian universities are NO WHERE near NUS or NTU. I must qualify that I am not saying that NUS or NTU is world class.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 7:31 AM | anon - Su Guaning

He seems to be at best unremarkable as a researcher, how did he manage to be the president of NTU? Is he related to somebody?

Fri 19 Sep 2008 10:09 AM | AnnA - Mike and anon

What do you know about Malaysia except from PAP news??? See correctly... at least EVERYONE in Malaysia own an asset.. how about you? Surrendering yourself despite knowing your own parents or siblings cannot own anything even if they can afford to!! Don't belittle other countries bumpkin.. our situation is worst than them!! They are still on power. The power to make your parents and mine to work until death!!

Fri 19 Sep 2008 4:24 PM | Eeeediot - Student media & MSM

So student media shouldn't be used to as publicity for political parties hmm...?

How about: "The MSM should not be exploited by only THAT party for biased reporting"?

About the student media, isn't news supposed to be reported freely? So what if the students reported that Dr Chee had visited the Uni? They(the students) were merely reporting on what went on around the school.

I can bet if any PAPpies were to visit the Uni, the news coverage would have been allowed.

Another show of double-standards here; just like the cycling event of PAP Carnival being allowed and while disallowing WP's cycling event.

Any explanations?

Fri 19 Sep 2008 5:45 PM | ah beng - mike

yo mike, don't get angry lah. it's just a war of words here, nothin more. try orchard tower next time.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 8:05 PM | 1-cent minister - Violent Video Game OK?

PAP allows violent video game that depicts drunk driving, carjacking, drug-dealing, committing robberies, running down pedestrians and visiting strip clubs (GTA) but political discussion is outlawed?

Fri 19 Sep 2008 9:15 PM | yoursmellyfriend - re: what sort of u

[quote=Malaysian students]Dear Singapore undergrads,

Any president/chancellors behaving like this would be forced to resign in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, all along, any students arrested for anti-govt demo will always be bailed out by the President of the U. This is a tradition and all Presidents of U are always on students side....

I find this really laughable... haha[/quote]

well, if you ask me, this really explains why and how Malaysia is in such a mess with all the Anwar crap, (and Singapore, still ever so peaceful and serene)

cheers from across the crossway!

Fri 19 Sep 2008 9:36 PM | yoursmellyfriend - re: Mike and anon

[quote=AnnA]What do you know about Malaysia except from PAP news??? See correctly... at least EVERYONE in Malaysia own an asset.. how about you? Surrendering yourself despite knowing your own parents or siblings cannot own anything even if they can afford to!! Don't belittle other countries bumpkin.. our situation is worst than them!! They are still on power. The power to make your parents and mine to work until death!![/quote]

hi anna,

i realised that you have a gripe about how singaporeans never have something they can call their own (ie, your cars are paid with loans, and your house is often mortgaged)

do you ever think why the government (or in this case, the economy) makes it so hard for you to actually own a car or property? if everyone in singapore could buy a car at the price of a car in thailand, gosh, our roads will be lined with cars. (a simple nissan in singapore can get you a brand new BMW 5 series in thailand you know). likewise, it's the same with property, if everyone can afford to buy and own property so easily and readily, will there be sufficient space for everyone in land scarce singapore!? also, if you ask me, property prices being ever so exorbitant is a good thing for singaporeans. the best thing to tie your money to in singapore, is property. the stock market follows too much of international financial waves, interest rates and fix Ds don't give you very much, investments we are offered with are seldom local (and that's not a good thing, we can never know how and what the first hand situation is like in the country where our investment lies). as such, we often look at buying property to help 'increase our wealth'. if you were capable and smart enough, you would know how to use the property market cycles to make you a fast buck, though not many know how to.

i would like to propose you a solution, if you were really that unhappy with what singapore can offer you, it would be best for you to move abroad. singapore is a nation of wealth and affluence. it has no place for people who want the best but not go all out to get it.

all streets are paved with gold; it's just how much you want the gold that defines if you reside in the upper echelon of society, or the slumps you often descibe us to be in.

and one last thing, one thing i know about malaysia that you probably don't, is that our currency is so much stronger than theirs'. now tell me, when you go to malaysia, do you feel good that you're now TWICE as rich? if you do, then please thank the MAS for doing a good job (oh wait, MAS is the PAP!!!)

Fri 19 Sep 2008 9:52 PM | ah beng - re: Violent Video Game OK?

[quote=1-cent minister]PAP allows violent video game that depicts drunk driving, carjacking, drug-dealing, committing robberies, running down pedestrians and visiting strip clubs (GTA) but political discussion is outlawed?[/quote]Eh, dun say that leh. I have GTA4 and Call Of Duty, but I not violent and I like the game leh.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 10:13 PM | tohjohn

.

Aahhh.

The perpetual fear of LKY and PAP of Singaporeans having, getting, learning more information on all issues in Singapore(and the world). Just run along nice boys and girls, just study your text book and do well in exams. Just don't ask questions other than what's in the syllabus.

Apparently, PAP doesn't think our uni student can think and analyse critically. PAP doesn't think uni student know what's right or wrong. In fact, PAP doesn't want uni students to know anything about the PAP government and their methods of control and oppression of the people. These methods are implemented (some very subtlely) but you cannot learn about them, know about it, all except what they (PAP) want you to know.....the all "glorious", all "knowing", all "caring", free of harsh criticisms and embarassing controversies PAP.

But are they? The "perfect" and "ONLY people who know what's best" PAP. ARE THEY???

Just look around you .... in Singapore. The bottom 20% - 25% of income earners have suffered decline in their living standards for 11 years now. While, the next level of 20% - 25% have stagnant (inline with inflation) living standards. Comapre this with the pay increase the PAP despots have given themselves!!!

Think. Open your eyes.

.

Fri 19 Sep 2008 10:54 PM | AnnA - To : yoursmellyfriend

"do you ever think why the government (or in this case, the economy) makes it so hard for you to actually own a car or property? if everyone in singapore could buy a car at the price of a car in thailand, gosh, our roads will be lined with cars. (a simple nissan in singapore can get you a brand new BMW 5 series in thailand you know). likewise, it's the same with property, if everyone can afford to buy and own property so easily and readily, will there be sufficient space for everyone in land scarce singapore!?"

Wah lau Ey... naive or ignorant? If it is so simple as what you have mentioned above, do you think I am only exaggerating and talk without using my brain? You think my brain can accept so simple explanation by you without thinking deeper? Don't reason out what many had seen as ridiculous by giving kindergarten theory lah. Although I am not so well educated like you, I am well learned.

Wei.. Isn't it better to allow anyone a one time loan to own a vehicle instead of making the citizens having to pay up new loans every 10 years? Don't talk about how many people can make money through housing properties... do you know that if you know how it works on vehicles, you can also beat the system? But as I have said... why we cannot have asset??? Only people like you agrees with lifetime loans. Rolling and rolling your loans but still cannot have your vehicle as your asset. And you say Singaporean are rich? Maybe rich with credits lah...

If we were to talk about this deeper, it will go all the way to... Singapore Gate. Knowing that Singapore is so small... blah blah blah..

"i would like to propose you a solution, if you were really that unhappy with what singapore can offer you, it would be best for you to move abroad. singapore is a nation of wealth and affluence."

I would love to but not now. Unless PAP is no longer ruling this country, I will change my mind about taking any chances to move out of here. Who are you to suggest or trying to rid of me from my birth country? If whatever I am not happy about, did I ask you to help feed me? Are you burdened by my words now? If you are, you are certainly one of them aiming to discourage me? Hmmm...

Fri 19 Sep 2008 11:10 PM | Anonymous

[quote][/quote]hi anna,

i realised that you have a gripe about how singaporeans never have something they can call their own (ie, your cars are paid with loans, and your house is often mortgaged)

do you ever think why the government........

........ one thing i know about malaysia that you probably don't, is that our currency is so much stronger than theirs'. now tell me, when you go to malaysia, do you feel good that you're now TWICE as rich? if you do, then please thank the MAS for doing a good job (oh wait, MAS is the PAP!!!)[quote][/quote]

Well done mike. Didn't know you had it in you. You sure can write.

BTW the way since you are at it (comparing Singapore to another 'slightly' less advance). You'll make PAP look like gods if you write up about say Singapore and Cambodia... Laos...Switzerland (oh sorry that the country we try to catch up for almost a decade)...let's see Vietnam...Afganistan....Iraq....Italy (oh sorry again that another country LKY says we try to catch up too).....Japan (gosh they are way ahead of us even when they are in recession)... Phili..

I am lost!!?? Why do you want to compare Singapore to Malaysia again??

[quote][/quote]at least I have fun and fu*k all the women I want ... and you? You are stuck with one ... and she will grow fat and old and ugly. Good luck to you.[quote][/quote]

From above quote from you, better stick to geyland, mike. Since you say you "have fun and fu*k all the women you want".....can give detail write-up on place and women you think is value for money?

Don't want to waste money on a bad visit. Please mike. You understand. Thanks.

Sat 20 Sep 2008 1:56 AM | Eeeediot - Car ownership?

I don't know about car-ownership and stuff or whether pricing cars to be so expensive is to deter would-be buyers to think twice about getting a vehicle.

But now, that idea didn't seem to work did it? That's why you get the E.R.P... =P

Sat 20 Sep 2008 4:57 AM | anon - Malaysia?

Dear Miss Anna,

In your opinion, because you can own a property in Malaysia means Malaysia is better. I think you need to sort out your priorities.

Are there more Malaysia working in Singapore or vice-versa? Are there more Malaysia becoming Singapore PR or vice-versa? If LKY is corrupt, then ... the Malaysian leaders are?

Sat 20 Sep 2008 7:07 AM | stop whining - stop whining Dr Chee

it is NO longer news that our universities don't dare irk the authorities, it is also NO longer news that our academics (more like bureaucrats if you ask me) don't dare to risk breaking their rice bowls. so it is NO longer news that Dr Chee is unwelcomed in NUS and NTU.

what is amazing is that SDP still plays this up! grow up! tell us what we don't know.

Dr Chee, STOP playing the victim. STOP whining.

Sat 20 Sep 2008 8:28 AM | AnnA - Dear anon

In Malaysia and around the world..

Do you know our govt. promotes frozen meat? While people around the world looking for fresh meats - slaughtered or chopped off their heads on the spot, our weird govt. promotes frozen ones. I do eat them though but at times I shudder when imaginations got the best of it thinking that I am eating an old meat = carcass. Whenever I went to Malaysia, I don't see sardines on their dishes. Until today, I am wondering why our MUIS has not gave out the fatwa(I don't know how to translate, I think it is rules) on Newater for Muslims. Obviously these are wasted water from you and me. It was made clear and odourless for you and me to drink. Why are we obligated for that?? In another country including Malaysia, our children are allowed to climb trees. Can you see one in Singapore? We can practise riding motorbikes in secluded area as long as we didn't post any danger to others but in Singapore? We can even plant our own trees, say, Plum tree? You can't even pluck one even it has ripen in Singapore. Neighbours don't close doors on each other but our 'pigeon holes' makes us have to in Singapore. Pf course having an asset means a lot to anyone except you? Just because you agree with PAP system. I am not saying that I don't like to live in my own country. I am saying this because you want to show how 'great' Singapore is under Leegime. Where is your child's freedom if you have one? Only having activities in school or playground? He wouldn't know how fun it is to play in the rain because of our fear that our child might get sick. I'm glad I've allowed my sons to play in the rain.

I don't mean Malaysia only... I meant anywhere else around the world except Singapore to have assets. D'uh. I want to live in my own country and I want to be allowed to own at least something besides household items. Something that nobody else can claim over it unless it goes in my will for my children and their generations to come. Let's change (for now in a moment) our perspective on freedom. A freedom to own something.

Cheers!

Sat 20 Sep 2008 6:19 PM | anon - don't get me wrong

Dear Anna,

I hate LKY.

But that does not make Malaysia better than us.

I don't think I see fresh markets in US or Europe, so ... are they first world or third world?

Do you want to stay in Malaysia where there is totally no meritocracy?

LKY may be bad, certainly SEA countries are no better.

Perhaps the grass is always greener on the other side.

Sat 20 Sep 2008 8:43 PM | AnnA - anon - No Comparison

So far, as long as I can remember, I have never compared Singapore with another countries. I have seen so many has always suggested to me (not only in this site) to choose Malaysia. Many were not happy with what I have to say. Some of them even bragged themselves as businessmen. And my weapon is.... 'ASSETS'. Ask them if they have their cars as assets, no one answered me. From then onwards, even I wish to own something in Singapore as a Singaporean.

Why can't I stay in Singapore and ask the govt. to allow us some decencies??

Mon 22 Sep 2008 1:45 PM | Mike - Ah Beng's suggestion

I tried Orchard Towers last weekend. It was great. Thank you for your recommendation.

Btw Ah Beng, I saw your mother and sister in action too. What a sight ... it caused me to see my food coming in reverse direction.