Report of the Public Accounts Committee
May 30, 2007
The Public Accounts Committee comprises a group of Members of Parliament and acts like the “Audit Committee” of the Government. It considers the Auditor-General’s Report, and examines the Government Financial Statements and other accounts which are presented to the Parliament.
The Auditor-General attends the meetings of the Committee and helps to clarify matters reported in the Auditor-General’s Report. (Auditor General’s Office)
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
The Public Accounts Committee appointed pursuant to Standing Order No. 100 (2) has agreed to the following report:–
1 The Committee considered the Government’s Financial Statements for the Financial Year 2005/2006 (Paper Cmd. 8 of 2006) and the Report of the Auditor-General for the Financial Year 2005/06 (Paper Cmd. 7 of 2006).
Singapore-Indonesian treaties: Is the light at the end of the tunnel a train?
May 28, 2007
By Gerald Giam
Indonesia has been seeking an Extradition Treaty (ET) with Singapore for the past 34 years.
However, since the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis this issue has risen to the top of Indonesia’s foreign policy agenda with Singapore. During the crisis, it is believed that many corrupt Indonesian businessmen absconded to Singapore with millions of dollars stolen from banks.
During Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s state visit to Singapore in February 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a surprise announcement that Singapore was “committed to having an extradition treaty with Indonesia“. The negotiations on the ET kicked off in March 2005.
Foreign Talent policy: of principle and practice
May 25, 2007
By Choo Zheng Xi
The government’s defense of its foreign talent policy follows a familiar pattern. The government rolls out a policy and frames it within unobjectionable truisms that few can disagree with. In the foreign talent debate, the truisms are ‘cosmopolitanism’ and the need for ‘healthy competition’.
When challenged on the specific implementation of its policies policy, the government often retreats back to broad principles to make critics look insular and anti-competitive.
We need to move the foreign talent debate beyond platitudes of principle and start asking hard questions about how it’s being implemented in practice.
The Work Holiday Programme: an undergraduate’s concern
May 25, 2007
By Ned Stark
Singapore’s open door policy rolls on. The government’s stated goal is to bring Singapore’s population up to the 6.5 million mark. Unless we drastically increase our birth statistics, it is clear that many of these 6.5 million residents will be made up of foreigners.
Minister of Manpower Dr Ng Eng Hen’s recently announced increase in S passes for mid skilled manpower from 10-15%, coupled with the announcement of a Work Holiday Programme (WHP) for 2000 foreign students highlights some problems with our foreign talent policy.
First and foremost, there has to be a clear definition of “Foreign Talent”.
UNSW closure - some tough questions
May 24, 2007
By Choo Zheng Xi
A friend of mine (let’s call him James) made the decision a few months ago to enroll in the University of New South Wales (UNSW) campus in Singapore.
He had taken a gamble and given up his place in NUS’ Business faculty for a chance to be part of an internationally renowned University, finding the local University culture stifling.
Little did he expect to be left with nothing but an unaffordable promise to study in Australia. When I tried speaking to James, he was almost too despondent to comment.
By June, all that will be left of UNSW’s presence in Singapore is going to be the shell of a half finished campus in Changi, and a host of unanswered questions.
The Byzantine oracle on the PAP
May 23, 2007
By Ned Stark
As a fan of history I subscribe to the view that “history repeats itself” (this post is spurred by LCC’s comment on Aaron Ng’s blog.)
A prominent American academic (I believe it was Samuel Huntington) had said: “The democratic system implemented by Lee Teng Hui will live on after him, but that built by Lee Kuan Yew will disappear once he is gone”.
If true, it bodes ill for Singapore.
An interesting parallel
The Byzantine Empire, which succeeded the Roman Empire, provides an interesting – if disturbing – lesson for Singapore. Read more
Singapore’s healthcare system - uniquely Singapore? (Part 2)
May 21, 2007
This is part 2 of a 3-part focus on healthcare in Singapore. Part 1 can be viewed here.
By Leong Sze Hian
F4.April 2007 - FEES COMPETITION:
In April 2005, 22 clinics that were willing to charge the same $8 fee as polyclinics were told by the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) that they could not list this information on a medical services website, because it infringed the SMA’s advertising guidelines (’Does’ ads allowed, so why not discount scheme?’; Straits Times, April 13, 2005, and ‘Why stop doctors from charging polyclinic rate?’; Straits Times, April 5, 2005).
As a result, all 22 clinics stopped offering the $8 fee. Now that the fee guidelines have been withdrawn, will these 22 or more clinics offer the same fee as polyclinics again? By the way, since polyclinic fees have been increased to $8.80, it may soon be cheaper to go to a private clinic at $8.
JBJ to set up “The Reform Party” (Report)
May 20, 2007
Video of the press conference is at the end of this article.
Recently discharged from bankruptcy, former Workers’ Party chief JB Jeyaretnam announced that he is registering a new political party.
Wearing a polo shirt with the words “The Truth Will Set You Free”, Mr Jeyaretnam fired off a list of issues which he wants reformed or corrected. Among them, the rule of law, the courts, the police, the civil service, the trade unions, the media and the election process.
The litany of these issues took up almost one hour of his press conference.
The president’s salary: Criticising the president’s salary, Mr Jeyaretnam called it “an abuse of public funds” and asked why the president needed to be paid such a high salary. He also criticized the election of the president. “He was no more elected than Lee Kuan Yew was elected minister mentor”, he said.
JBJ’s Return To Politics: Method In The Madness? (Commentary)
May 20, 2007
By Choo Zheng Xi
Before JB Jeyaretnam’s press conference today, there was much speculation in opposition circles about his political future. It was widely rumored that the veteran politician was ready to throw in the towel.
At the age of 81, he has contested a total of 8 elections and has established himself as one of Singapore’s most recognizable opposition leaders. It would have been an opportune time to call it quits.
However, it looks like Jeyaretnam, popularly known as JBJ, fully intends to battle on. The question that politicos are asking now is this: will it make a difference to electoral politics as we know it?
Singapore’s healthcare system - uniquely Singapore? F1 or F9? (Part 1)
May 18, 2007
By Leong Sze Hian
This is part one of a three-parts chronological treatise on healthcare issues over the last 2 years or so, like means-testing, non-priority for subsidised rates healthcare, wards down-grading, medical fees competition, costs of medicines and alternatives, healthcare spending, MediShield, ElderShield, implications for foreigners, PRs and Singaporeans, etc.
What will the future of healthcare be like for Singaporeans? What are some issues that we may need to be concerned with? What are your fears? What sort of healthcare system do you want? How do we compare with other countries?
Here are the first 3 issues with our healthcare system.
