By Howard Lee International Press Freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RWB) has issued a media release criticising Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for the legal action he is taking against blogger Roy Ngerng, which the organisation sais is “designed to silence whistle-blower and warn off others” from questioning the PM on Central Provident Fund issues. RWB claims that the PM “is …

The following are extracts from the keynote speech by Singaporean writer Suchen Christine Lim at the 7th Annual Gathering of Asia Pacific Writers & Translators at The Arts House, Singapore, on Thursday, 17 July. We present her remarks pertaining to the recent controversy involving the National Library Board. You can read the full speech here. Ms Lim, who came from a single-parent …

By S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian We refer to the Clerk of Parliament’s reply “Lack of quorum: Clerk of Parliament replies” (Straits Times Forum, Jul 17) to Mr Leong Kok Seng’s letter (“Questions over lack of quorum” (Jul 14). 91 MPs attendances? The letter by Clerk of Parliament, Ms Ng Sheau Jiuan states that the sitting on 7 July was …

A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) fellow, Dr Wan Yue, has become the first Singaporean to receive the prestigious Branco Weiss Fellowship given by the Swiss-based ‘Society in Science’ philanthropic organisation. The fellowship program was initiated and financed by the Swiss entrepreneur Dr. Branco Weiss, who passed away in October 2010. The organisation gives out 10 fellowships to outstanding scientists every …

Note to readers: This commentary deals with a topic that not everyone will agree with, or even want to talk about. The subject of suicide is a sensitive one to most religions, and even the topic of death is taboo for most cultures. As such, we encourage readers to read this with an open mind – rather than simply accept or oppose these views, do discuss …

By S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian We refer to media reports about the time saving benefits offered for staff of SingHealth by the One Medifund scheme. The medical healthcare group also shared that the new system has saved patients many trips shuttling between health institutions, medical social workers and pharmacies. All subsidised patients who can’t pay can apply for MediFund? According …

Human Rights Watch / Graeme Reid, Director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program And Tango Makes Three is a children’s book about two adult male penguins who hatch an egg and raise a youngster. It is based on the true story of two penguins, Roy and Silo, of New York’s Central Park Zoo. And, in the view of Singapore’s National Library Board, …