Singapore has expressed surprise over a comment made by Malaysian Land Public Transport Commission’s chief executive Mohamad Nur Ismal Kamal that Malaysia prefers to end a high-speed rail (HSR) between Singapore and Malaysia at the existing customs building (CIQ) in Johor Bahru. Nur Ismal made his comments in an interview with business magazine The Edge Malaysia, saying (as quoted in Channel NewsAsia), …

Singapore ban on e-cigarettes and low-risk tobacco products is unscientific, unethical and harmful to health – protects the cigarette trade at the expense of the health of smokers. Two British tobacco policy experts have called on Singapore’s Minister for Health to put the bans on e-cigarettes and low-risk tobacco products on hold and to launch a policy rethink, starting with …

By Howard Lee The latest response by the Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee (SINGSOC) on the jams at the SEA Games closing ceremony could hardly have appeased the crowd of thousands who were stuck outside the stadium. After the incident went viral on social media, SINGSOC went on the SEA Games 2015 Facebook page to issue its first apology and …

On Wednesday, 17 June, the government announced that all civil servants will received a special one-off SG50 bonus of S$500. This is to mark the nation’s 50th jubilee year as an independent state. This is in addition to the previously announced 0.5 month mid-year Annual Variable Component (AVC) payment the civil servants will receive in July. The Public Service Division …

“SG50 is a nationwide effort to celebrate our country’s 50th birthday in 2015. That’s a huge milestone – 50 years of independence! This is a momentous event for Singaporeans to reflect on how far we’ve come together as a nation and people.” That is what the SG50 website says. “This is our country, and our celebrations couldn’t be more meaningful …

Dutchman Dino Petrus Johannes van Deijzen has been sentenced to three weeks in jail for assaulting a taxi driver in October last year. He had refused to pay his fare and subsequently assaulted Mr Ee Kah Ling, the cab driver, who had threatened to call the police on him. Mr van Deijzen and his girlfriend were reportedly intoxicated when they …

From Public Opinion The number of cases of molest in our public transport system has seen a consistent increase in the last three years. “Overall, molestation cases increased from 1,325 to 1,367 in the same period, according to the police’s annual crime statistics released yesterday,” The Straits Times reported in January this year. In 2014, the TODAY newspaper had a …

By Gunther Wong When I commented last month that Ministry of Manpower (MOM) set a good example by sending staff for communication training, I was convinced that it was the right thing for the government to do. Some help that was. Their latest Manpower Research and Statistics Department report is confusing, and I needed a friend with a statistics minor …

After two months of police investigation, the police has decided to issue a “stern warning” to Jason Tan Kok Whee, a grassroots leader over a threatening statement he made online, directed at 16-year old Amos Yee. Amos was being charged with harassment, and with allegedly wounding the religious feelings of Christians in a YouTube video. He has since been judged guilty of …

If you have been waiting eagerly for Sonny Liew’s comic book to be available again, well wait no more! “The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye”, the 34-page book which has grabbed national attention in recent weeks, is again in stock from 19 June (Friday). “The highly anticipated #TheArtOfCharlieChanHockChye will be back in stock at all bookstores starting from 19 …