Lee Kuan Yew’s passing and the subsequent week of national mourning caused many Singaporeans to revisit the achievements of one of the most important figures in Singapore’s history. Lee’s absence will be felt but more importantly his void must be filled. Lee was a man who had a unique blend of skills that were relevant …
Lee Kuan Yew’s analytical prowess and leadership skills Read More »
Most developed and crowded cities are trying to encourage cycling as a mode of transport so as to save scarce space and to more efficiently manage people-flows. Cycling is the second most space efficient form of transport, edging just ahead of motorcycles and falling behind mass public transport options such as busses and MRTs. But cycling …
Making Cycling a Viable Commuting Option in Singapore Read More »
Fires from the Sumatran islands have affected both Singapore and Malaysia as dry winds are carrying smoke towards the east. Singaporeans have reacted in a wide range of ways from fury and disgust to humor. As much as I thought that dengue was going to be the health concern of 2013 for our island city, …
Americans went up in arms when a program managed by the United State’s National Security Agency (NSA) called PRISM was leaked to the media. PRISM is a secret espionage program that monitors valuable foreign communications that passes through servers located in the United States and possibly even those located offshore but owned by companies based …
The Media Development Authority announced new guidelines that will require additional licensing for current affairs orientated sites with a large Singapore viewership. I think it is important for those who are interested in this change of rules to read the factsheet verbatim from MDA’s site. Context is important, please do click on that link and …
Singapore’s Tweaked Online Licenses Show Naivety Read More »
LTA’s evaluation of a change in ERP system this week peaked my interest. They are looking move from a single charge entry fee to one that is distance based. There are many sides to the coin here when it comes to a specific set of roads that undergo such charges but I thought it would …
Asia’s rise to prominence in the past two decades has yielded a flurry of discussions by economists, international relations scholars and even historians. We are all excited about the prospect of something new, yet worried about what this means for global stability. Some want Asia to learn to be like the West so that they …
I was asleep when the Boston bombs went off. I woke still hazy with flu to see my daily news feeds alert me that two bombs had gone off in Boston. Also, Iraq was hit by a death toll of 50 as Iraqis made their way to voter boxes. I looked up a few news …
In the heart of the population debate lies the issue of immigration. Immigrants provide essential support for Singapore’s economy to lean on. With a growing population, residents in the country are feeling the squeeze and it is not just space. Competition for spots in preferred schools and jobs are just a few of the growing list …
Integrating Immigrants into the Singapore Society Read More »
The past few years have seen Singapore head towards a slightly different political direction. The dominance of the incumbent party has not been shaken. The People’s Action Party still holds an overwhelming majority. They can lose seats in double digits and still be unaffected. However, it would be foolish for the incumbents to remain stagnant …
I have been fascinated with mass media for the past eight years or so. Mass media is such an important facet of life that it is almost impossible to come across anyone that is purely disconnected from the radio, television, newspapers, or even the internet. We live in a connected world not by force but by choice. …
Singapore’s population is going to grow and there’s no stopping it. We can slow down the growth rate but we cannot turn back. With the current long term policies in place, reversing our population figures will do more harm then good. It is possible to maintain our standard of living with population decline but not …
Soaring housing and car ownership prices, diminishing personal space and intensely cramp public transport services have led to a series of outcries from Singaporeans. We feel threatened and smothered with little space to move. As the population white paper was routinely passed after some fanfare in parliament, the result is the same. We are focused …
About 5 days ago, the Workers Party emerged as very clear winners in the Punggol East single member constituency The winning margin was massive with 54.5% of the voters picking WP’s Lee Li Lian over PAP’s Koh Poh Koon at 43.73%. The huge margin was not expected but the aftermath was rather predictable. Pro opposition (and/or …
The death of Aaron Swartz, a renowned 26 year old computer genius, has brought the spotlight back on the problem of public goods. Before delving briefly into the difficulties posed by goods and services deemed to be freely accessible, you should read up on the young man if you haven’t. He has a long list …
Aaron Swartz – The Tragic Misunderstanding of Public Goods Read More »
Ever since SOPA and PIPA blared across the internet early this year, there has been consistent discussions about free speech on the internet. Over the course of 2012, we have seen the confusion of net neutrality, U.S. Elections, issues sprouting from Reddit and now Google’s opposition of UN’s regulations. Free speech and freedom of unrestricted …
Wars are like heated arguments, a disagreement that turns into a clash of egos. Many times, conflicts spin out of control deviating far away from the original point of disagreement. It is inefficient, a waste of energy and resources but yet we indulge in it. After all, winning egoistical battles and turning vindictive victors are …
Today’s record breaking jump from the stratosphere is yet another entry in both history books and the continual desire of mankind to break limits. Felix Baumgartner broke records in a daring jump that pushed the limits of science. In a sense, he was a guinea pig the same way men like Yuri Gagarin, Neil Armstrong …
I woke to news that Amy Cheong launched an angry tirade against a Malay wedding. Her foul mouthed comments roped in the entire Malay population in Singapore. Needless to say, she received a near instant termination from employers NTUC and ended being Singapore’s shortest lived villain in recent history. However, her immature and insensitive actions highlighted certain aspects of …
Singaporeans face the bell curve from the age of 12 and this may continue all the way till we retire. It is used in nearly all national exams including the PSLE and also in firms where they mark employees for promotion / firing. There is a natural reaction to simply call this measure brutal and unnecessary but …
This might sound strange to most Singaporeans. For decades, everything Singapore was tied to its economy. Incredible growth, one of the four proud Asian Tigers / Dragons, an economy that weathered the Asian Financial Crisis and then a decade later a Lehman led version. Singapore has been an economist’s dream. Much credit has to be …