YouthQuake: Public transport the key to a less congested Singapore
June 8, 2008
The Workers’ Party Youth Wing (YPYW) held its second YouthQuake forum June 7 titled “Moving with the times -A Transportation Road Map by Youths in Singapore”.
Chaired by WPYW executive committee member and chairperson Bernard Chen, the public forum, with an audience of about 30 people, took place at the party’s headquarters in Syed Alwi Road.
Three youths were invited to speak — 20-year old Republic Polytechnic graduate Jamilah Lim, Nanyang Technological University final-year accountancy student and entrepreneur Kelvin Quee, and 21-year old Alvinder Singh, who recently completed his National Service. Read more
ICA, MOM refuse to release Burmese statistics
May 18, 2008
Selene Cheng
Why is labour information being hidden from citizens? Is a culture of secrecy healthy for good governance in Singapore?
Getting official statistics from government agencies is next to impossible, as The Online Citizen (TOC) recently found out after reporting on the gridlock outside the Burmese embassy on 27 April 2008. Burmese nationals had gathered there to vote in a referendum on a new Constitution.
The night of 27 April saw Channel NewsAsia reporting on television that the Burmese community in Singapore is estimated to be 30,000 strong.
Members of the Burmese community TOC had spoken to, however, put the size of the community at around 100,000.
Youths call for right to vote at Youthquake forum
May 4, 2008
“The power of Parliament comes from the people, and the power of the people comes from our right to vote.”
The Workers’ Party Youth Wing (YPYW) launched its inaugural YouthQuake forum series today on the topic “Should Singaporean Youths be Allowed to Vote at 18?”
The public forum, targeted at youths, took place at the party’s headquarters in Syed Alwi Road.
WPYW executive committee member and chairperson of today’s forum Bernard Chen said that the YouthQuake forums aim to “promote greater awareness of youth-centric issues, to promote debate and discussion on issues that affect [youths]”.
No voting NO: Burmese embassy staff contrive to disenfranchise voters
April 27, 2008
Selene Cheng
Burmese national desperate to vote goes topless, but still no vote
A sea of red greeted me as I made my way up the road to the Burmese embassy at St Martin’s Drive. Burmese lined both sides of the road, the rows of people in red standing three abreast along a pavement sporadically broken by blue uniformed policemen.
The crowd was gathered to vote early in a referendum to approve a new constitution for Burma.The constitution, drawn up by the military junta, is seen by many Burmese as a bald attempt by the junta to cement its grip on power. It disqualifies opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from holding key political positions as she is married to a foreigner. Miss Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, won an election in a landslide in 1990. To this day, her election victory remains unrecognised.
